Shigeru Miyamoto from Nintendo just announced that we’re finally getting a live-action film for The Legend of Zelda. He’s been working on it for years and he can now officially announce that Nintendo has started development on the film with Avi Arad joining the team to bring this story to the big screen. For those not in the know, he used to be the CEO of Marvel and has worked on Spider-Man: No Way Home, Uncharted, and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Basically, he knows what it takes to bring the superhero to life. And for a long-standing franchise like Legend of Zelda, we’ve already got some requirements in mind. Or suggestions.
Firstly, no Tom Holland. I know he has been the fan favorite for Link for a while. And looking through Arad’s IMDb, he has worked with Holland on about four occasions. But Holland is an easy choice. He’s the expected one. The same thing goes for Emma Watson as Zelda. And it might look nice on a CGI fancast, but I don’t think it works in the long run. Personally, I’m also tired of seeing the same faces over and over in Hollywood. The Legend of Zelda is an opportunity for someone to break into the industry. I also think it’s important to bring someone new to this franchise who has no preconceived expectations of their previous work weighing heavily on The Legend of Zelda, especially when they have played such a monumental hero before.
Basically, I don’t want Holland to become the next Chris Pratt. Because anytime there’s a casting call for a new movie or if they’re speculating, Pratt is always the first one making rounds. Some are serious, but mainly people joking. Because he’s a joke. Even now with The Legend of Zelda, people are making fun and pointing out what if Pratt was cast as Link and Jack Black joined him. It sounds like a fever dream and I don’t want to experience it, no matter how much I have enjoyed Black’s previous performances. The same thing goes for Watson. There are other actors who can take on these pivotal and monumental roles that don’t have an iconic hero role like Hermione Granger as part of people’s expectations as to who Zelda is.
For a live-action The Legend of Zelda movie, we’re also really hoping that they have a hell of a CGI team. It’s important to keep a property like this grounded with live-action sequences. And when I mean live-action I mean that they’re actually on a set and not in front of a green screen the entire time. A really good CGI team can tie the whole project together and make it feel grounded in our reality while it is apparent that it’s nothing like our reality. And with 25+ games as inspiration, I personally hope that the live-action also takes into account the small details that come with this world, from the monuments to the jewelry and outfits.
This brings me to my most important point on requests or requirements for a live-action The Legend of Zelda movie. I personally think that Tears of the Kingdom should be taken into consideration when Nintendo is looking for film inspiration. For one, it’s beautifully built, from story to design. There’s also the fact that I want to see them acknowledge the insane builds that people have put together for this game. But the number one reason that I want the live-action Legend of Zelda movie to be inspired by this game, are Link’s outfits. We’re talking about the blue number with the back cut out. And also the disguise worn in the Gerudo camp. If you include these outfits, the theaters will be even more packed than you could ever imagine.
Guaranteed.
P.S. Man, now I can’t stop thinking about how Tom Holland might do a good job at Link if he were in the Link Gerudo outfit. Nooooooo!
