I remember the first time that the notion of a Legend of Zelda movie grabbed my attention. It was April 2008 and IGN had just released a trailer for the up-and-coming Legend of Zelda film, claiming the hopeful hearts of fans from all over the world, including myself. For its time, it was a professionally produced teaser that took elements from both Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess, basically making it a dream come true.
As soon as I heard the sweet notes from “Epona’s Song” being sung over a backdrop of a CGI Hyrule my body was covered in goosebumps. With a low budget Peter Jackson’s The Lord of Rings vibe, the preview begins with our hero working on a ranch and visiting Castle Town Market for the harvest season. Sounds familiar, right?
Like how all good stories begin, our main protagonist is instructed to keep his head down and not touch anything — this presumably includes the shiny golden triangles that are perched on a pedestal which, of course, is the first thing that requires touching. This brings on a premonition where we see a rather corny-but-angry-looking Ganondorf surrounded by flames, looking like he is the spokesperson for teeth whitening. The Triforce appears on the protagonist’s hand and we are taken to a moment where a certain princess has been waiting to embark our hero on his adventure.
Zelda informs Link that she is too late in stopping the evil that has crept within the walls of Hyrule Castle, leading him to the Temple of Time where he will awaken seven years prior to these events. Queue the famous green-tunic-and-hat montage to the first few notes of the “Song of the Hero,” another goosebump-worthy moment. The trailer also features the likes of Queen Gohma, a field full of Peahats, and some battle scenes between Link, Ganondorf, and Sheik.
There is no doubt as to why this trailer premiere received such positive attention but alas, my own excitement was short-lived as myself and many other people were all rendered speechless upon the words “April Fools.” To this day you need only glance at the comment section on YouTube to feel the surging disappointment of the many devoted Zelda enthusiasts, some of which are still waiting for a real Legend of Zelda movie to be made.
During the time of IGN’s fake trailer, I would have given anything to have a movie made about my all-time favorite franchise, but as I have grown older, so have my thoughts and opinions. For years there has been speculation and teasers indicating that one day we could be gifted with a Legend of Zelda movie or, as of late, a Netflix series. It is a topic that has been raised more times than a hidden shrine, but the question that I seem to be constantly asking myself since I first viewed IGN’s trailer is: Would the concept really work? I remember spending a fair few hours in front of my laptop scanning the internet to find just a whisper of some truth for a greenlit production, but nothing has ever come up trumps and I suppose, looking back on it, that could be a good thing.
In most recent years, news about a live-action remake for our beloved hero surfaced as far back as 2015 with rumors of Nintendo collaborating closely with Netflix producer Adi Shankar. Shankar even posted an announcement on Instagram in October 2018 stating he was “working with an iconic Japanese gaming company to adapt one of their most iconic video game series into a [TV] series.” But, just like the Hylian Lake after Ganondorf’s take-over, the updates and news dried out.
Like many of you, I love The Legend of Zelda franchise, but for me, movie adaptations of video games flop more than they succeed (here’s looking at you, Super Mario Bros.). How can you take something that is loved differently by so many people and make it into a mainstream cinematic masterpiece? I struggle to picture a live-action movie that captures the magic that only comes from playing the games, and I just cannot picture any actresses or actors that fit the bill of the characters. No one will be good enough, in my eyes.
When I picture a Legend of Zelda movie, I am in the category of people that see it being in the style of Studio Ghibli and thanks to Matt Vince, creator of The Legend of Zelda x Studio Ghibli teaser trailer, we can see that vision come to life in a bittersweet video that will probably never become a reality, shattering any acceptation I may have for a future movie adaptation.
Arguably, with the right producer and source material, something beautiful could be created for the big screen and do justice for any one of the games. It does feel like a wasted opportunity to not adapt one of the most iconic video game franchises of all time into a movie or series, especially as there are so many versions to pick from, all of which are filled with rich storylines, lovable characters, and unique locations.
Of course, the franchise is never short on fan contributions when it comes to bringing our favorite games of the franchise to life. From short movie adaptations to our very own Zelda Universe English Dub creations and even the official 1989 animated series, at least there is something there to fill the void whilst we sit and wait patiently for what may or may not be.
I am grateful to IGN for bringing me a trailer that I played one hundred times over in my head whilst playing Ocarina of Time. I am hoping, however, that if a Legend of Zelda movie adaptation is in the making, the producers will take as much time as they need to perfect it — maybe this could be the real reason as to why we have yet to see Link become a movie star? You cannot rush perfection, after all.
