The Legend of Zelda is one of those double-edged sword properties when it comes to Hollywood film adaptations. On the one hand, fans have waited decades to see a lot of the iconography on the big screen. On the other, big film budgets come with a lot of unnecessary friction. Tons of fans feared the worst when Nintendo announced their Zelda film would be live-action. While the worst excesses of the current blockbuster scene may or may not touch the adaptation, it has already stepped into some questionable territory by allegedly planning a trilogy before its first entry hits theaters.
One of the biggest issues in modern entertainment is its uncertainty. It seems like the major studios see something in the tea leaves and rearrange their entire slate of programming every other week. It's a bigger issue on streaming, where fans have seen the odd project get produced, lose its spot on the calendar, and pop up under another studio. It's a rough time to be a fan of most things, but Nintendo is still a relatively new entry into the world of franchise cinema. There's plenty of time left for things to go wrong, but only the rights holders can choose how rough it gets.
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The Legend of Zelda Movie Might Be a Trilogy
|
Director |
Wes Ball |
|---|---|
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Writers |
Derek Connolly |
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Studios |
Sony and Nintendo |
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Release Date |
March 26, 2027 |
A rumor via a notable Hollywood insider suggests that the upcoming Legend of Zelda movie has been split into a trilogy of films. The first entry will reportedly come to theaters in 2027, with two more on the way in the coming years. It would be a six-year project with a locked-down main cast. Details are scant, and this claim remains a rumor, but there's a strong possibility that Nintendo and Sony could have eyes on franchise potential for this project. It definitely feels within the realm of possibilities that this massive name wouldn't be confined to a single entry. Operating under the assumption that the rumors do hold water, The Legend of Zelda would be making a big mistake by tying its narrative to a trilogy instead of a standalone feature.
The Legend of Zelda Movie Needs to Stand on Its Own
There's a lot to get right when it comes to adapting The Legend of Zelda for the big screen. The franchise has a few pieces of essential iconography, but almost every entry feels like an exploration of a new world. A feature film adaptation could easily pick one entry in the franchise to adapt, but it could also create a new version of Hyrule and have a lot of fun with it. Either way, it's a huge story for one feature-length film. A Zelda game often follows one central storyline about Link saving the world from Ganon, but they tend to take their sweet time across a dozen enjoyable levels. That's where all the puzzles, battles, and lovable side characters generally pop up. With all of that material to work with, it's very easy to see how a filmmaker might struggle to imagine capturing it all in a single film. Unfortunately, starting with the promise of three films is a great way to weaken the impact of the first one, potentially even threatening to undermine ongoing plans. The first Zelda movie has to stand out and work from the perspective of a solo project first. It's an epic fantasy adventure first and foremost, and that type of film can't survive off the hype of more compelling quests in the sequels to come. At least one beloved fantasy franchise had that concept nailed down decades ago.
Star Wars is a Great Example
Looking back now, it's almost impossible to believe there was a time when Star Wars was just one astonishingly popular blockbuster. When George Lucas and his accomplished crew assembled the legendary 1977 film, they did so with the simple, noble goal of capturing the stuff they loved about art that inspired them. They imagined one story with a definitive beginning, middle, and ending. Only after the film changed the face of cinema forever did they set to work building the next two entries. Only after that trilogy became the defining statement of the medium did Lucas consider going back to fill in the blanks of the story, forever dubbing what was once a standalone feature with the number four. One could watch Star Wars without ever pursuing any other film, series, comic, or video game in the franchise and still leave with a satisfying experience. The same can not be said about most modern hits.
The Legend of Zelda can accomplish a lot in the space of a single feature film. Star Wars certainly did, and while it's tough to hold something to that standard, the filmmakers behind this Nintendo adaptation should aim high. If they truly are planning on a trilogy before their first project, they'll have to lock down a satisfying first entry without relying on the sequels to pay everything off.
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