Universal and Illumination are closing a deal to adapt The Legend of Zelda into a movie, according to Hollywood insider Jeff Sneider. Speaking on the The Hot Mic, Sneider said “Zelda is looking like the next big Illumination-Nintendo franchise, which we were all expecting. I’m told that is happening.” Sneider said that this project will cost Universal a “pretty penny” after the major success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The movie earned over $1 billion worldwide, making it the most successful video game adaptation. A The Legend of Zelda movie would be well-timed after the popular Tears of the Kingdom blew everyone away last month.
Universal and Illumination to Adapt The Legend of Zelda Into a Movie
With The Legend of Zelda being one of the most successful video game franchises ever, it’s almost amazing we haven’t already gotten a movie. That is until we consider how many video game adaptations have failed miserably. Movies like Doom, Silent Hill, and the infamous Super Mario Bros. adaptation from 1993 were notably panned upon release. And while some of video game adaptations fare better with age, viewers often view such films as “so bad they are good.” While that has some value, it still falls short of cinematically impressive.
While no video game adaptation thus far can be called a masterpiece, they have become more impressive in recent years. Detective Pikachu (2019) scored fairly well with critics and was a major box office success. HBO’s The Last of Us adaptation proved highly successful with critics and audiences. And while the recent Mario movie got mixed reviews, it was the biggest worldwide opening for an animated movie. Our own Donnie Smith ranked it among the best movies Illumination has made.
Given Universal and Illumination’s success with The Super Mario Bros. Movie, The Legend of Zelda seems to be in good hands with the studios.
