The Legend of Zelda is an IP that has long been primed for a full-length feature adaptation. Now, with its first look out, fans are finally excited about a concrete way forward after years of rumors and speculations. The Legend of Zelda is one of Nintendo’s flagship franchises, and with the success of recent video game adaptations such as Super Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Pokémon, it seems like the correct time to bring one of the most important franchises in video game history into the live-action space.
A decade ago, there would have been a lot of skepticism about such a project, given the abysmal track record of live-action video game franchises. Popular IPs like Prince of Persia, Doom, and Assassin’s Creed were forced to languish in box office hell, as critical and commercial opinions of the films that these IPs spawned were largely negative.
Shigeru Miyamoto, the game designer behind such hits as Mario and Legend of Zelda, and an industry legend, announced the casting of the film earlier in the year, revealing that the character of Zelda will be portrayed by Bo Bragason, and Link will be essayed by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth.
The Legend of Zelda is going to be a breath of fresh air for the fantasy genre
In the wake of Game of Thrones, studios rushed to fill the niche the show left behind, leading to a scramble for dark and/or low fantasy IP that could be adapted into live-action. Even some light-hearted IPs like Avatar: The Last Airbender were adapted to cater to the fans of shows like Game of Thrones. However, thanks to the first look at the Sony-Nintendo-led project, fans can rest easy that the film is actually looking to capture the adventurous spirit of the game.
The Legend of Zelda is an IP that thrives on classic fantasy tropes, and while there have been dark moments in the story, the narrative as a whole has favoured exploration and adventure over some twisted deconstruction of the genre, as seen in works like Game of Thrones. Miyamoto is heavily involved in the production of the film, and that has contributed to fans feeling safe about the adaptation. With Nintendo’s other franchise doing so well at the box office, the time seems right for a big-budget action-adventure film like Zelda.
The film is yet to reveal some of the most iconic parts of Zelda’s mythology
In the first look at the film, fans saw Link in his iconic green, Peter Pan-inspired outfit, and Zelda wielding her bow and arrow. However, notably missing from the first look were Link’s iconic Master Sword and his Hylian Shield.
The Master Sword is something that should remain hidden until the actual film is released, given that its reveal can be a big moment for the film. The Master Sword, with its unique design and how tied it is to Link’s character, is something that fans are going to be very happy to see. The production needs to trust that fans are going to enjoy the way it chooses to depict the Master Sword and the Hylian Shield, instead of using it to market a film that people are already pretty excited about.
There is enough in Zelda’s history that could make it into the first film that fans can actually be very excited about. Other details about the film are still under wraps, including casting and the characters that fans can expect to see on the silver screen. The first looks for these characters are also going to be crucial to how the film is perceived.
The internet has been torn about the Legend of Zelda’s first look
While a large part of the fandom is pleased with the first look that was released by Nintendo, a few voices on the internet are dissatisfied with the casting choices that were made by the studio. There is a very potent call from a section of the fandom that believes Hunter Schafer was much more suited for the role of Zelda, as opposed to Bo Bragason.
The ‘controversy’, as it has been labeled by some commentators online, has received some traction online, but remains largely absent from the mainstream. Nintendo and Sony seem to be very happy with their choices and are going to focus on making good progress with the IP.
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However, it must be noted that the first look is marred with such skepticism from fans, who championed a particular actress for the role of Zelda. It might lead to a situation that doesn’t work in Nintendo’s favor. It all comes down to Bo Bragason’s performance and whether it manages to win over fans when they finally see her in action. Similar casting dissonances between fans and studios have been resolved with great performances or deepened with bad ones. It remains to be seen on which side of the line Legend of Zelda ends up falling.
