Nintendo Has a Silent Problem With ‘Zelda’ Film
A movie based on the popular video game will be inherently difficult because its recurring protagonist doesn’t speak. And developers have long preferred to keep it that way.
To speak or not to speak?
Photographer: Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomberg
When Nintendo Co. announced on Tuesday that it was developing a live-action Legend of Zelda movie, fans rejoiced. They had been asking for this for years: In 2022, Zelda was voted the most desired game-to-movie adaption in a survey by pop culture site FandomSpot, but even as far back as 2008, gaming news giant IGN created an elaborate hoax trailer that thrilled, and ultimately disappointed many fans.
Nintendo’s news wasn’t unexpected. Recent game adaptations have been commercial successes, garnering box office profits and awards. Since the pandemic, this has included series such as HBO’s The Last of Us (with an astounding 25 award wins and 86 more nominations) and Netflix’s Arcane (22 awards). Movie adaptations have included Sonic the Hedgehog one and two (five awards and 15 nominations between them), and, of course, Nintendo’s own The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which made $1.36 billion at the box office this year.