Nintendo has approached Sony Pictures to develop a film adapting the Zelda universe. The fact that it is live-action does not invite optimism. For now.
“ I’m the optimistic type in life, but here I’m afraid »: Thibaut Villanova, alias Gastronogeek, sums up the general impression well in a tweet published on November 8. Nintendo has just formalized an ambitious project: the adaptation of the Zelda saga into a film, not animated, but live-action. That is to say with actresses and actors in real settings (natural and/or on green backgrounds). This announcement really surprised everyone at the time.
Seeing Nintendo fuel the desire to offer a feature film in the Zelda universe is ultimately not surprising. Few months ago, Super Mario Bros. The film was a real tidal wave at the global box office, with more than 1.3 billion dollars raked in — that’s more thanOppenheimer (1.2 billion) and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (840 million). This year, alone barbie did better (1.4 billion). In short, there is a market for Nintendo’s flagship licenses to also flourish in the cinema. However, a live-action Zelda should alleviate some fears.
Zelda, a film with a silent hero?
The choice of live-action, while the path to animation seems obvious, raises many questions. Already, fans will not fail to liven up the forums by imagining the perfect casting. Who to play Link? Who to play Zelda? Whatever choices Nintendo and Sony Pictures, which co-produces, make, they will not be unanimous. This is a risk that does not exist with animation, even if there are high artistic expectations (Sonic knows this more than anyone).
Another point: the budget. How much money will Nintendo and Sony Pictures put on the table to make the Zelda universe credible? This is a huge issue. A Zelda movie has as much chance of being wonderful as it does of being unlike anything. Reimagining a fantasy world in real life sometimes, if not often, produces ridiculous results without special effects to match. Besides, no one has forgotten the very first adaptation of Mario to the cinema. Again, this problem would not exist with an animated film.
We also recall that The Legend of Zelda revolves around a mute hero. Link doesn’t say a word in his various adventures. We wonder if Nintendo and Sony Pictures will go this far in fidelity, knowing that Link is not the only video game character who does not speak. The stakes are high, for a modern film.
The most optimistic will perhaps cling to the fact that Nintendo boss Shigeru Miyamoto is very involved in the project. Cinema fans will respond that Avi Arad, the other big name, is hiding behind failed films. Including adaptations: Daredevil, Ghost Rider, Ghost in the Shell, Venom, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Morbius or Uncharted. The reasons to be pessimistic are therefore legitimate.
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