Summary
Over the last few years, video game movies have experienced a massive resurgence in popularity after their disappointments in the ’90s and early 2000s. Recent films likeSonic the HedgehogandThe Super Mario Bros. Moviehave led this success, with the latter proving to be one of the greatest success stories in animated film. Off the back of that success, Nintendo is wasting no time in starting production on a new film focused on one of its properties. The company announced earlier this month that a movie based onThe Legend of Zeldais in the works, and this time around, Nintendo is delving into the world of live-action.
Ever since theLegend of Zeldafilm was announced, much of the internet has been awash with speculation and anticipation about who will be cast as Link, Zelda, and Ganon. Aside from those conversations, many otherZeldafans are wondering what exactly the plot of this film will be. One of the most exciting possibilities is that theZeldafilm could adapt one of the games, but then comes the matter of choosing which one. While there’s certainly no shortage of games to take inspiration from,The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Wakercould have the strongest premise to anchor a feature-lengthZeldamovie.
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Wind Waker’s Hero’s Journey
At the center of everyZeldagame is its adventure, and while each game gives Link sufficient reason to brave the dangers of Hyrule,Wind Waker’s plot could make a seamless transition into the medium of film. From Link’s humble beginnings on Outset Island, to his hunt for the Pearls of the Goddesses,Wind Waker’s story beatscould fit neatly into a three-act film structure. While it likely wouldn’t cover every corner of the expansive GameCube title, a movie that clocks in at between 90 minutes and 2 hours could reasonably containWind Waker’s most important elements.
Wind Waker’s Wide, Colorful Cast
Just about everyZeldatitle is filled with an array of memorable characters who bring their own flair to their respective games.Wind Wakerhas these unique characters in abundance, while also taking familiar faces and introducing a new spin on them. One ofWind Waker’s most compelling storytelling elements is how it handled Princess Zelda. Similar to how she took on the persona of Sheik inOcarina of Time, Zelda inWind Wakeris instead the pirate Tetra. She is unaware of her royal bloodline until well into the game, and this depiction could make for a pleasant twist in the second or third act ofNintendo’sZeldamovie.
Wind Waker’s Setting
Wind Wakerwas a divisive game at launch for a few reasons, one of which being its much more aquatic setting compared to past entries. The game’s island-hopping has since become one of its most beloved features, and while a live-action film may not benefit fromWind Waker’s timeless cel-shaded style, a film with the same setting could have some captivating visuals. From the open seas to the Forsaken Fortress, aZeldafilm that focuses onWind Wakerwould have no shortage of exciting set pieces to choose from.
ManyZeldafans have been asking for a film adaptation for decades, and at long last, it’s in the works. Odds are there won’t be any concrete information on the film aside from the fact it’s happening for some time, but if it does go the route of adapting one of the games,Wind Wakerwould make a worthy candidate. WhileBreath of the WildandOcarina of Timewould surely be popular options as well,Wind Waker’s charm and adventure could have a lot of potential on the silver screen.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
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The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is the sequel to the beloved open-world adventure, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. This installment once again sees Link and Zelda battling to protect Hyrule from falling to Ganondorf. This new adventure takes place in the same land of Hyrule as Breath of the Wild but sees something called the Upheaval, which allows link to travel to Sky Islands, as well as deep into the Depths beneath Hyrule. Players can use special abilities to fuse together weapons, and build items to help them progress through the release.
