Well, it’s official: after years of rumors and hopes, Nintendo finally confirmed on Tuesday that it’s developing a live-action The Legend of Zelda movie with Sony Pictures. And unsurprisingly, Nintendo fans have thoughts about it.
In the immediate aftermath, the reactions focused on everything from the choice to make it live-action to fancasting to the creatives involved. It’s being produced by Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto and prolific producer Avi Arad, with The Maze Runner and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ Wes Ball on board to direct. Jurassic World writer Derek Connelly, meanwhile, is writing the script.
There was some quick, well, skepticism over Arad’s involvement, as the founder and former CEO of Marvel Studios has a vast array of credits to his name, ranging from Sony’s acclaimed Spider-Verse movies to the Venom films to 2017’s Ghost in the Shell.
Or, as one Redditor on r/nintendo put it, “Can't believe they were able to get the producer of the hit film Morbius!!”
Nintendo making the LEGEND OF ZELDA movie with Avi Arad, Wes Ball, and Derek Connelly… not even if the meetings were put together alphabetically should these guys have been your first picks
— Kyle Buchanan (@kylebuchanan) November 7, 2023
“With Avi Arad set to produce” pic.twitter.com/APkpc8itm1
— RJ (@ResonantJustice) November 7, 2023
Many know that Avi Arad meddled multiple spider man movie series to death, but did you know he also actively held the 90s spider-man cartoon back from doing anything artistically ambitious because that might get in the way of it being “one big toy commercial?”
— Geoff Thew (@G0ffThew) November 7, 2023
Anyway, Zelda…
Avi Arad has produced masterpieces like Spiderverse, and also Morbius.
— Rayluaza (@rayluaza) November 7, 2023
it's russian roulette, everybody https://t.co/GOePVBBxif
if you asked avi arad who zelda was he'd point to the guy on the cover https://t.co/5m9eL7QY9m
— Neb | ?️? (@NebsGoodTakes) November 7, 2023
they gave the live action zelda movie to wes ball and avi arad. human culture is over
— largest rodent (@capybaroness) November 7, 2023
Nintendo: The Zelda movie will be directed by Wes—
— Ben Bertoli! (@SuperBentendo) November 7, 2023
Me: Anderson?!
Nintendo: What?? No. Wes Ball.
Me: Oh, right. That makes more sense… pic.twitter.com/LMqyew4ZwR
What might even be more interesting, however, is the fact that the film will be live-action, especially following the success of Universal’s Super Mario Bros. Movie. It’s not quite what fans expected, but some are staying open-minded.
“In theory a Legend of Zelda film shouldn't be hard,” wrote u/haidere36 on r/nintendo. “Do some swordfighting, some adventuring, have Link do a big climactic fight with Ganon and save the world and we're good. People can say Zelda plot doesn't work in live action but action films have hardly ever relied on deep, complex plots to engage people.”
However, others are immediately disappointed: “I'm not going to lie.. live action really hurts this for me,” said u/Riomegon. “Animated would have been the way to go if you ask me.”
zeldatwt after hearing about the zelda movie: pic.twitter.com/RRpvgYUgVJ
— ?Duffin ? (@Duffin_Plus) November 7, 2023
This will either be the best, or worst thing ever...
— Fractured Realms - Adult Visual Novel (@VirtStudios) November 7, 2023
I want to be hopeful, but I just don’t think The Legend of Zelda will work in live action. Give me a sweeping fantasy epic from Studio Mir, a wacky & wild comedy from the Nimona team, or just a straight up anime. pic.twitter.com/UoKOfsDXmQ
— Conor Holt (@conor_holt) November 7, 2023
Others, though, are just plain excited.
i dont even care its live action, we WILL be seeing the Zelda movie pic.twitter.com/Eoq8hVdwlV
— ?Duffin ? (@Duffin_Plus) November 7, 2023
SWEET MOTHER OF MOSES!!!!
— Rob (Ro2R) (@Ruleof2Review) November 7, 2023
You guys I could cry. I am absolutely gobsmacked, overjoyed, and elated beyond belief. THIS! THIS was my dream! Some Nintendo IPs are ideal for animation, others are tailor made for live action. And I always knew Zelda is that IP.
THIS. WILL. RULE!!!!! https://t.co/CATWJcruo7
umm WHAT?! ? WE GOT A LIVE-ACTION ZELDA MOVIE ON THE WAY?? LET'S GOOOOOOO ?✨
— ?LIVE: JustJesss ?️? (@JesssAdel) November 7, 2023
What do you NEED to see in it? https://t.co/EKYapjdK7v
There is SO MUCH that could go wrong with live-action Zelda, but if they NAIL it, it could truly be something special. I was expecting it to be animated, but I'm happy to have been wrong
— André (@AndreSegers) November 7, 2023
And of course, there were also jokes. So many jokes.
First look at Sony's live action The Legend of Zelda movie. pic.twitter.com/fwvb2gnGW9
— Maku (@TropicalMaku) November 7, 2023
can’t wait for Link to say “HEP! HA! HYA!” in the new upcoming Legend of Zelda movie
— Omni ☕️ (@InfernoOmni) November 7, 2023
Speaking of jokes: the fan-casting has officially begun, and it took approximately five minutes for both Tom Holland and Chris Pratt’s names to start trending on X/Twitter.
The funniest thing they could do here…would be to cast Chris Pratt as Link. https://t.co/ArZA6V2TYg
— Jordan Maison (@JordanMaison) November 7, 2023
me when they reveal the cast members for the live action legend of zelda film and tom holland is actually link pic.twitter.com/iO8elWoqYW https://t.co/64A3fE5UDr
— sita ⚡️ (@twilisita) November 7, 2023
But the jokes weren’t limited to Pratt and Holland! Others got a little more creative:
pitch: make everyone in the live-action Zelda Muppets except Link, who will be played by Michael Caine
— eric van allen (@seamoosi) November 7, 2023
Nathan Fielder has been cast as “Link” in the upcoming THE LEGEND OF ZELDA film. pic.twitter.com/KUESwfkbxJ
— Brian Altano ? (@agentbizzle) November 7, 2023
Hear me out for the Zelda movie pic.twitter.com/WbqxvGEQrk
— Reecee (@Reecee_yt) November 7, 2023
BREAKING: Michael Cera has been cast as Ganondorf in the newly announced live-action Legend of Zelda movie. pic.twitter.com/IBmfZ92Ca8
— Ben Bertoli! (@SuperBentendo) November 7, 2023
Nintendo’s made it, to put it mildly, a wild day on the internet. While we know very little else about this massive news, at least we can watch fans do their thing.
And hey, just remember: IGN did it first.
We had a live-action Legend of Zelda movie 15 years ago thanks to an IGN April Fools joke. pic.twitter.com/FT92oiDu4D
— Alan Johnson (@AlanJohnson) November 7, 2023
