OK, but really, which Zelda game would make a good Zelda movie?

After performing coy across the launch of Tears of the Kingdom, Nintendo has lastly introduced the unthinkable but nonetheless inevitable: a live-action film based mostly on the Legend of Zelda collection. Produced by Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto and Avi Arad (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Morbius), the movie, which Miyamoto has stated he has been at work on for “many years now,” now goes into formal improvement at Sony — of all studios! Director Wes Ball, who broke out with the Maze Runner trilogy and can return to screens in 2024 with Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, is presently on board to direct.

The announcement got here with few particulars, but followers acquired proper to work screaming about whether or not or not Timothée Chalamet is the correct elf-like actor to play Hyperlink. (In the meantime, right here at Polygon, we’re extra questioning if Jack Black enjoying Bowser in The Tremendous Mario Bros. Film disqualifies him as a candidate for Ganondorf, as a result of it shouldn’t.) Eagle-eyed of us nonetheless on X (previously Twitter) additionally seen Ball has been dreaming of this chance for his complete profession; in a tweet from 2010, the filmmaker proclaimed, “Since I could never even hope to have the chance to direct it… the next big mo-cap Avatar-like movie should be… THE LEGEND OF ZELDA.” Although he was method flawed in regards to the first half, contemplating how Nintendo went to nice lengths to protect its iconography within the Mario film and that Ball now has tons of expertise within the motion-capture world after Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, it wouldn’t be stunning if the “live-action” Zelda film seemed extra like The Adventures of Tintin than The Lord of the Rings in the long run.

But past the look of a Zelda film, there are larger questions on Nintendo’s strategy. Primarily, how do you even do Zelda as a film? Recognized extra for vibes than story, acquainted designs and gameplay than sensical timeline and lore, the franchise has hardly ever relied on narrative to carry the eye of gamers. But there are many bits for Miyamoto, Arad, Ball, and whichever writers rating the golden alternative to “adapt” it for the massive display. Prompting us to surprise: Which Zelda game would really make the most effective supply materials for a film? Under, our die-hard Zelda buffs make the case for why a trustworthy tackle Hyperlink’s adventures may really work.

A Zelda film based mostly on Breath of the Wild?

There’s principally no method that Breath of the Wild received’t be a main inspiration for any Zelda film — the game’s success and superlative visible design assure it. It’s just too widespread and too well-known to not use as a template. That stated, the participant expertise may not seem to be essentially the most cinematic factor at first blush. There’s no explicit urgency to defeating Ganon, and no surprising twists. It’s a story informed via flashbacks that winds as much as a fast (some would possibly argue anticlimactic) ending.

But with a little livening up, Breath of the Wild might be a pure slot in narrative, not simply visible vibes. An amnesiac hero explores the totally different cultures of Hyrule with the intention to collect a crew of fantasy pals to harness forgotten know-how to free a princess and defeat an historical evil. That’s a simple map to the type of three-act construction that makes a crowd-pleasing blockbuster. Plus mountain climbing. —Susana Polo

A Zelda film based mostly on Ocarina of Time?

Picture: Nintendo

Ocarina of Time introduced Zelda into the 3D period, and it has the legacy to deliver it into the live-action period. In contrast to virtually each different Zelda title, which have relied on twists to the method, Ocarina of Time performs like an origin story. We meet Hyperlink in Kokiri Forest as a younger lad, see him heed the hero’s name to journey, meet Zelda and Ganondorf in a scary first-act set-piece, then embark on the precise quest that episodically introduces the Zora, the Goron, and the Gerudo. The Nintendo-fied Lord of the Rings trilogy is all there if Miyamoto desires to speedrun via it in a single movie, with the additional benefit of getting a built-in musical palette. Very like Peter Jackson’s LOTR films, a Zelda film goes to dwell or die on simply how massive the themes can go and the way intimate the soundtrack can get in pivotal moments. The least gimmicky technique to adapt the gameplay is perhaps to port over Hyperlink’s magical ocarina enjoying. The Legend of Zelda film might be As soon as for blockbuster fantasy movies.

So far as outcomes, I think about we’ll get a little of column A and a little of column B so far as an adaptation is worried. By the point Wes Ball’s film hits theaters, the N64 era will likely be bringing the Swap era. If Nintendo attire up Ocarina of Time in Breath of the Wild’s clothes, it would simply have a Tremendous Mario-level hit. —Matt Patches

A Zelda film based mostly on Majora’s Masks?

Picture: Nintendo

Sure, it would be easy sufficient for a filmmaker to go the route of the extra conventional hero’s journeys specified by Breath of the Wild, Ocarina of Time, and even Twilight Princess. But right here’s my factor: Get bizarre. Why not make a film that really captures the underlying creepiness that we hardly ever speak about once we speak about The Legend of Zelda? Majora’s Masks is a Lynchian journey via a weird dream world full of individuals coming to grips with the approaching finish of the world. It’s about grief, loneliness, remorse, and transformation — you could possibly even view its approaching apocalypse (the moon is actually plummeting towards the world of Termina) as a metaphor for local weather change. Its Groundhog Day time-loop construction can be fertile floor for narrative prospers worthy of the silver display. All of which is to say that, in a time when video game diversifications are both too protected or flat-out pointless, a retelling of Majora’s Masks would possibly really flip some heads. —Mike Mahardy

A Zelda film based mostly on The Wind Waker?

Picture: Nintendo

Whereas the cel-shaded artwork type of this game would lend itself higher to an animated adaptation, I nonetheless assume there’s a stable argument to assist a film impressed by The Wind Waker. Amongst Zelda video games, I believe Wind Waker has one of the vital emotionally compelling premises for a story; as an alternative of beginning with a quest to avoid wasting Zelda, Hyperlink units sail with a band of pirates after he helplessly witnesses the kidnapping of his little sister. The cutscene the place Hyperlink waves goodbye to his grandma from a ship crusing away continues to be among the many most emotional and cinematic moments in a Zelda game thus far.

And whereas the game has a cartoony look, there’s nonetheless a lot visually to play with that would make for good set-pieces in a film. I can already think about a cool, perhaps corny CGI model of the King of Purple Lions. Outdoors of results, if this film will get the Mario remedy and maybe reimagines the function of Zelda as a damsel, it’s potential Tetra’s story may get a rewrite to embrace the exuberance she possessed earlier than reworking into Zelda. If Nintendo is in search of a family-friendly flick with sufficient sufficient meat on its bones to have the makings for a film adaptation, The Wind Waker would possibly really be it. —Ana Diaz

A Zelda film based mostly on Spirit Tracks?

Picture: Nintendo

As a lot as I like Spirit Tracks, I’m not going fake this DS entry isn’t a minor Zelda. But there’s one factor that makes it significantly nicely suited to adaptation: That is the one game within the collection in which Hyperlink and Zelda hang around and work together during.

Admittedly, she’s a ghost, but it’s nonetheless an cute, harmless children’ love affair — Ponyo type — that would make for a delightfully candy Zelda movie. Plus, it has choo-choo trains, and who doesn’t love a little bit of practice motion on the films? —Oli Welsh

A Zelda film based mostly on completely nothing?

Picture: Fagiani

Like The Tremendous Mario Bros. Film, the live-action Legend of Zelda movie will doubtless have as many references to as many video games as potential so that each fan’s needs are represented.

But when it comes to story, I need the movie to be what reboots the Legend of Zelda gaming franchise as a complete. Following Tears of the Kingdom’s somewhat definitive ending (and exhaustive, multi-tiered exploration of Hyrule), it’s time to introduce one thing that followers have by no means seen earlier than — whether or not it means altering the canon of earlier video games or introducing a new mega baddie on the extent of Ganondorf that’s all new to the collection, I’m game for a enormous shake-up somewhat than merely a 90-minute fan service play. Additionally, Hyperlink ought to discuss. —Cameron Faulkner

A Zelda film based mostly on the Legend of Zelda TV present?

Picture: DiC Leisure/Nintendo

The plain reply is that Nintendo ought to remake the Legend of Zelda cartoon that first aired in 1989 — a easy story about how Hyperlink simply needed a little kiss.

It’ll be straightforward to adapt, as a result of there’s no actual operating throughline, past kissing and combating Ganon for the speaking Triforces. There’s a lot of room there for Miyamoto and Arad to mess around with storylines, simply as long as they maintain the Moonlighting-esque rapport between Hyperlink and Zelda. The Legend of Zelda by no means had any live-action bits itself, but The Tremendous Mario Bros. Tremendous Present! had some segments to drag vibes from. Worst case state of affairs, Nintendo’s acquired a “so bad it’s good” cult basic on its fingers with the live-action film. —Nicole Carpenter

Which game ought to Nintendo adapt for its first ever Zelda film? Go on… make the case for Skyward Sword…