Metal Gear Movie Director Shares His Ideas About A Potential Legend Of Zelda Film

Ok just please let Christopher Walken be Ganondorf 👍

He sounds pretty enthusiastic.

The only like they should give Link is "Well excuuuuuuse me, Princess!"

...I just want a multi-part Majora's Mask movie series.

You know, first movie being the prologue, Link trying to recover his form within Clock Town. The next 4 movies involving the 4 regions and temples, then the last movie being the moon. (or it could be 2 parts like with Deathly Hollows, I dunno)

It'll never happen, though...T.T

On a list all the Nintendo franchises that would make decent movies I'd say Legend of Zelda would be near the bottom. If any of the Legend of Zelda's could though it would probably be Majoras Mask.

Ehhhh... maybe? Hey, it could work if given the proper translation from game to film.

I'd personally see something for Metroid first though. I think out of anything Nintendo has, Metroid is by far the best candidate for the best possible quality possible.

Yeah...

I think I'd rather see that Metroid movie instead...

I would prefer they just left Zelda alone. Mario is fine but Zelda has a certain mystique about it. I wouldn't want that spoiled by some over dramatic Hollywood director.

I don't think there is a snowball's chance in hell of a LoZ movie working. Especially with a silent protagonist. Zelda is not a narrative story. The whole film would be nothing but action and would have to be sold entirely on it's special effects and action. I just cannot see that working.

I also cannot see a Metriod film working if it is western live action. Too much Uncanny Valley to cross there. Iron Man works because he only wears the suit during the action scenes. If you looked at that CG effect all movie it would wear thin much quicker. However I think a Metroid anime could work very well. In anime, or old school western animation (not modern Toy Story/Frozen ugly CG) you can have a lot more freedom with your environments and the uncanny valley is much smaller.

Pfffft....

Silent protagonist in a film? No thanks. Trying to stick too closely to the game is what’s made so many other tie ins completely fail when transitioning to the big screen.

There’s no reason for link to have no voice in a film. In a game we’re plying and controlling Link, he is us. It makes sense then. On a film we have precisely zero control of the character so he should have his own voice and be his own identity. We’re passengers in a cinema, far more so then in a game.

Even in a game if Nintendo ever makes a more text heavy Zelda title, then I could potentially see Link eventually being able to speak. Not a given but I wouldn’t be against it.

My thoughts on this:

1. No stupid fusion! Is this a Hyrule Warriors movie or Legend of Zelda movie? The director sounds clueless. Nintendo should play a big role in the production of the movie if they want to get it right.

2. Link doesn't need to be totally silent vocally. Sure, he needs a great actor who speaks through his eyes, mimics and actions rather than words. However, Link can speak. He often answers questions. I imagine he's kind and straightforward (and sometimes shy) when people ask him questions. He definately keeps it short and on point though, no unnecessary words or explanations or any smalltalk at all. After all he's working towards an epic goal and he's never got much focus on anything else until it's achieved. Real heroes don't talk much anyway, they prefer to do things!

I don't know. That new Sonic movie might break the mold for video game movies. Move over Super Mario Brothers!

@Smigit Look up the "Legend of Zelda (April Fool's Day) Trailer" on IGN's YT.

Actually, everyone should review (or re-review) how IGN and Rainfall Films actually proved that the concept really can work, especially with Link as a silent protagonist. Although, the "Tron Lines" this director mentioned might not work out for a title usually steeped in medieval fantasy, especially after seeing the aforementioned trailer.

just don't make it as bad as the "Super Mario Bros." movie. even though, im pretty sure they are different creators. all im saying is, if their is a zelda live action movie, im hoping for a fantastic Zelda live action. if you can make it BOTW good, with great voice actors and such. it might even be the video game film of all time. although, don't take every element from BOTW.

Just make him grunt and yell when he swings sword. But the one thing he can say while being in a stealthy scene is "Meowww" Distraction 101 right there.

...Ehhhhh.

I'd rather see an animated Legend of Zelda movie (done by Studio Ghibli!) than a live-action film.

Just my personal thoughts.

No disrespect to anyone’s opinion, but I don’t buy that a series steeped in a ton of lore and mythology (however convoluted it may be) can’t be made into a movie. Does it have to be a direct adaptation of one of the entries? No. And that’s the beauty in the series in that it and it’s narrative has been shown to be flexible and to be told in many different variation. A movie could certainly accomplish that.

And no to a silent Link. I love the series. But have always felt it was dumb (in the age of voice acting in video games) that Link still doesn’t speak.

@GloryQuestor I dont think a 60 second trailer proves the silent protagonist would work. The entire thing was other characters talking off screen etc. If cut as a film, not a trailer, then it’d feel very different and very daft if you ask me.

I don't see how a silent Link would work unless it was built into the plot (a Little Mermaid-style curse maybe)? It would be pretty strange either way.

I just can't see a live-action Zelda working at all. Zelda really needs a bit of abstraction and mysticism for the story to work. I could see a Studio Ghibli film working, maybe. I cannot imagine Zelda as a Hollywood action film at all.

A silent protagonist sounds like a mess...

I would totally watch this. Sounds interesting!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbMQfaG6lo8

Even though most of you have more than likely already seen this, I feel as if it's more than enough evidence that done correctly, a Zelda movie could be beyond anything we could end up imagining.

A loz movie could be great if done correctly

The question of whether something can or can't be done is often asked in place of the true question: "should it be done?" Regardless of one's thoughts on what can and can't work on the topic of a non-existent Legend Of Zelda film, the answer to that critical, often forgotten question is always going to be "No." Some things are best left to themselves, and Zelda is a prime example of that. With its open narrative and silent-but-stoic protaganist acting as the "link" to the player, the Legend Of Zelda is always going to be a perfect video game series and a comparatively-disappointing anything else.

@Majora101 Well put and fully agreed.

Please no, an Animal Crossing drama has more chances to succeed.

I think its an awesome idea, Link could be mute I think his silence is a must, it would also add to the overall suspense if Link was deaf but in whatever way I agree Link should be mute .

Why does Link even have to be part of a possible Zelda movie?

I don’t think he could remain silent for the entirety of the film. My idea has always been a bait and switch. Play up a protagonist to be the chosen hero only for him to fall at some point in the movie and Link a silent member of the party step in and reveal his name to be Link.

I haven't heard anything about KONG SKULL ISLAND but awful things.
Why is everyone listening to its director about how to direct a Zelda or Metroid or Metal Gear movie ??

There's already a Zelda movie: Peter Pan and the Pirates. It's based on Windwaker.

Am I the only one who's freaking because he said "The Link to the Past" instead of "A Link to the Past"

A friend of mine said that Andreas Katsulas would've been perfect as Ganondorf. I am not sure who would be a good fit for Ganondorf now. I think the director has a good feeling for what makes Zelda, well Zelda.

Silent Link for me.

Movies don’t have to be alike, and I would hate to see Zelda and Metroid as american action films.

If this were the era of silent film, that would be one thing, but doing it today means that the audience HAS to be able to connect with the silent character. It's a very serious, very involved task with no room for error. To make it a pinch easier, they could opt to make a Link a character who's taken an oath of silence, or be a traveller who comes to Hyrule and doesn't speak hylian and thus CAN'T communicate with anyone, or he could have witnessed an event that left him too traumatized to ever speak again. As long as the audience can understand why he doesn't speak, then the audience's expectations will be set and will tune into this character who can't speak for himself. As for the story, there's more than enough material to make for an emotional, daring tale.

PS: Navi could do all the talking... No?Ok, I'm done.

It could work.

It'd be VERY hard to pull off... but it could work.

@Garage That was my thought as well. A Zelda movie does not need to be centralized around Link.

Honestly, I don’t think the Legend of Zelda lends itself to film adaptation very well. If it were to have a movie, I would want it in a CG animated movie with an active sidekick (more like Midna, less like Navi). I’d rather see a CG Zelda show on a streaming service than a movie.

@OorWullie True

You know, Link talks a lot in Breath of the Wild – through text! He can be quite snarky at times.
I think he could be made into a character that speaks infrequently. Zelda's diary mentions this and cites Link's shyness combined with burden of being "the Hero" as a reason. That's actually an interesting idea for a protagonist: he's the Hero, he knows he's the Hero, he's not afraid of it – but it's still a hell of a pressure situation!

Drops the master sword into mt doom...