With Wes Ball, the Legend of Zelda movie is in good hands

Wes Ball has a daunting task ahead of him as he prepares to direct the live action Legend of Zelda movie. In addition to all of the rigors that come with helming a big budget blockbuster, he also has to win over a fanbase that is very unsure about the project. A Legend of Zelda movie was long thought to be an impossibility, the medium seen as incapable of capturing the same magic and scope that the video games possess. Being live action only further stokes the widespread uncertainty. The Legend of Zelda’s unique, vibrant art directions are considered infinitely more suited to animation, although plenty of fans would tell you that an animated production would still be no guarantee of a successful adaptation.

It’s hard to believe that Wes Ball expected anything different. You need to have a lot of confidence to accept this role, and he has expressed exactly that when addressing media in recent days –

“Legend of Zelda, to me, is one of the most important things ever in my life. You know, next to Star Wars. I’ve played Legend of Zelda throughout my childhood into my adulthood. You know what I mean? I am a fan. I am a fellow fan. I will go to the ends of the earth to make sure that it is the movie we all hope it will be.”

Of course, actions speak louder than words, but until The Legend of Zelda movie is ready for the world to see, he has something else with which he can prove his mettle — Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.

We understand that you’re likely not visiting Zelda Universe for a movie review of a Planet of the Apes flick, so we’ll be concise when we say that Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is excellent. Its “Certified Fresh” Rotten Tomatoes score is very well earned, and if you’re looking for a new movie go watch in theaters, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is highly recommended.

It says a lot about Wes Ball that he was given the opportunity to make this movie. The Planet of the Apes name alone is revered within the science-fiction genre thanks to the groundbreaking 1968 classic. The modern reboot trilogy was both a commercial and critical success, with the second and third movies, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and War for the Planet of the Apes (directed by The Batman’s Matt Reeves) being regarded as two of the best blockbusters of their era. Wes Ball was handed a big responsibility when he took over directing duties for the franchise, and he more than proved that he was up to the task.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes turned out to be an ideal showcase for what he’s capable of behind the camera as he prepares to tackle a Legend of Zelda movie. Not only does it cement how comfortable he is working on a blockbuster film that is filled with elaborate set pieces and cutting edge special effects, but Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes also tells the same kind of “hero’s journey” that would make for a fitting Legend of Zelda tale.

In Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, a young, unassuming chimpanzee named Noa suddenly has his peaceful life upended, forcing him to set out on a perilous adventure to stop a maniacal tyrant. The Planet of the Apes setting is rich in backstory and lore, with modern civilization as we know it today being an ancient way of life. Throughout his journey, Noa explores abandoned ruins laden with secrets, he hears stories of the past that are spoken of like myths, he encounters forgotten technology that is far more advanced than anything in his time, and he eventually finds himself at the center of a struggle for how the long lost powers of a bygone era should be used to shape the future.

Those are elements that would feel right at home as the premise and themes for a new Legend of Zelda adventure. In fact, take out “Planet of the Apes” from those descriptions, and you could just as well be describing Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom.

This is all on top of the blockbuster experience that Wes Ball gained prior to Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, which came in the form of the Maze Runner adaptations. Although those movies didn’t enjoy the same acclaim as what his Planet of the Apes entry has seen, they prepared him for big budget, action-adventure romps. More importantly, they, along with Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, have provided something particularly valuable for a man about to work with The Legend of Zelda — understanding of how to adapt an established, ambitious property to film.

Many unknowns still remain about The Legend of Zelda movie, but if nothing else, fans should take solace in knowing that the project has been handed off to a very capable man.