Nintendo to develop live-action The Legend of Zelda film with Sony Pictures

In an epic fusion of gaming and cinema, Nintendo teams up with Sony Pictures to bring ‘The Legend of Zelda’ to life on the silver screen.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, supplied by Nintendo

Gaming titan Nintendo has just revealed plans to bring the enchanting world of ‘The Legend of Zelda’ to theatres, confirming the development of a live-action film adaptation of the legendary game series.

The film heralds a groundbreaking collaboration between Nintendo and Sony Pictures Entertainment, with Nintendo financing over half of the project.

Shigeru Miyamoto, the mastermind behind the original ‘Zelda’ video game and Representative Director at Nintendo, will join forces with renowned producer Avi Arad to bring the fantasy realm of Hyrule to vivid life.

Nintendo to develop live-action The Legend of Zelda film with Sony Pictures. Picture: Nintendo

Under the directorial vision of Wes Ball, known for The Maze Runner series, the film aims to capture the adventure and magic that has enthralled ‘Zelda’ fans since its 1986 debut.

The project symbolises Nintendo’s ambition to extend the reach of its entertainment empire beyond the confines of gaming consoles, striving to produce universally enjoyable content.

“‘The Legend of Zelda’ has been a passion project for years,” Miyamoto expressed on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

“Together with Avi Arad-san, we are dedicated to crafting a cinematic experience that will delight fans and newcomers alike.”

The ‘Zelda’ series, a cornerstone of gaming culture, has sold over 130 million copies globally.

Its latest offerings, ‘The Breath of the Wild’ and ‘Tears of the Kingdom,’ have been hailed as some of the greatest video games ever made.

Screenshot from ‘The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild’, hailed as one the greatest video games ever made. Picture: Nintendo

This film announcement comes on the heels of the colossal success of Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros film, which grossed over $1 billion worldwide.

Despite the infamy of the 1993 Super Mario Bros live-action movie, Nintendo’s recent box office triumph and the protective stance over its intellectual properties suggest a new era of cinematic ventures for the company.

“Nintendo’s foray into movie production is a strategic expansion of our IP’s accessibility,” the company elaborated.

“We’re not just in the business of gaming; we’re in the joy-spreading business.”