There's still a long wait before the Legend of Zelda movie is released, but this is actually excellent news. Following the global success of Illumination's The Super Mario Bros Movie, Nintendo has gone all in on bringing its classic video games to the big screen. A Mario sequel is on the way, expected to hit theaters in 2026, and the live-action Legend of Zelda movie is also confirmed and in the works. Though an exact release date has not been confirmed, the upcoming film was given the release window of "202X," indicating that Legend of Zelda should be released in 2029 at the latest.
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While this elusive release year doesn't reveal much, it indicates that Legend of Zelda won't hit theaters any time soon. No plot details have been made public, and it's unclear when in the Zelda timeline the movie will be set. About all that has been confirmed is that Wes Ball (The Maze Runner, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes) will direct while Derek Connolly (Jurassic World) writes the script. The Legend of Zelda movie is also being made with the close cooperation of Nintendo, which is always a good sign. Still, one of the most exciting features of the film will be made possible by our long wait.
Legend Of Zelda Movie Taking Its Time Means Its Visual Effects Can Live Up To The Games
Slow & Steady Is A Great Sign
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The release window for the Legend of Zelda movie indicates that Ball plans to take his time with this project, and this hopefully means that the visual effects will be astounding. The Zelda video games have always been known for their exceptional visuals since every release tends to be groundbreaking in game design. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time brought Hyrule to 3D, and every title since has taken the breathtaking features of this fantasy kingdom to the next level. Now, the Zelda movie must follow suit.
Bringing a Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom-style Hyrule to the screen will require a lot of time and work. Sets must be constructed, scenic filming locations must be secured, and CGI must be carefully utilized. One of the common fears following the announcement of the Zelda movie was that this process would be rushed, but Ball has given every indication that he is handling this IP with great care—something Nintendo's release window further supports. Ball has also teased his vision for the upcoming film, stating that he will take a "grounded" approach to the project. This bodes well, also.
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Legend Of Zelda Will Be Grounded, But It Can Still Be An Impressive Visual Experience
Ball's Practical Approach Is Far Better Than His Previous Plan
Long before Ball was officially tied to a Legend of Zelda movie, he posted on Twitter (now X) that he would love to do a full motion-capture Zelda movie. However, he has since changed his mind (via Polygon). Ball has instead explained that he wants to take a more grounded and "real" approach to Hyrule. This is a relief since Zelda fans have already seen full CGI renderings of this fantasy world and its characters time and time again—it's a video game franchise, after all. The benefit of a live-action Zelda movie would a version that is both immersive and believably realistic.
The benefit of a live-action Zelda movie would a version that is both immersive and believably realistic.
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Those who have enjoyed exploring Hyrule in the various Zelda games want an opportunity to see a real version on screen—to feel like they are closer to losing themselves in this fantasy kingdom than ever before. It certainly seems that this is Ball's vision, and Nintendo's release window has given him enough time to make this happen. While there are still many ways this could go wrong, it sounds as if the project is currently on the right track.
What The Legend Of Zelda Live-Action Film Should Look Like
Ball's Vision Sounds Intriguing
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Live-action high fantasy worlds are nothing new, so Ball has a lot of potential inspiration for bringing Zelda to the screen. Perhaps the most notable example would be Peter Jackson's version of Middle-earth in his Lord of the Rings movies, which were famously filmed predominantly in breathtaking New Zealand. Ball could certainly take this route, and a similarly styled Hyrle could check many fans' boxes. However, Ball's Zelda movie must differentiate itself from other projects within the genre. Hyrle is unique compared to other high-fantasy worlds.
Ball interestingly noted that he wanted his Zelda movie to feel like a live-action Miyazaki movie, referencing Studio Ghibli's animated classics like Howl's Moving Castle, Spirited Away, and Princess Mononoke. This is an intriguing prospect. Miyazaki's animated worlds are notably light and whimsical, with touches of eerie darkness perfectly woven throughout. They have a recognizable aesthetic, which would blend beautifully with the world of Zelda. Precisely how Ball will pull this off in live-action is another question, but if he can capture a similar tone, the Legend of Zelda movie will be absolutely lovely.
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The Legend of Zelda (Live-Action)
Not Yet Rated
Action
Adventure
Fantasy
Based on Nintendo's legendary video game series, The Legend of Zelda is a live-action action-adventure fantasy film by director Wes Ball. The film's producers include Shigeru Miyamoto, the original creator of Zelda, and Avi Arad.
- Director
- Wes Ball
- Studio(s)
- Nintendo , Arad Productions
- Distributor(s)
- Sony Pictures Entertainment
- Writers
- Derek Connolly
- Franchise(s)
- The Legend of Zelda
