Video game movies are definitely back in style, with the Minecraft Movie just days away from release, The Super Mario Bros. Movie storming the cinemas in 2023, and now, releasing in 2027, The Legend of Zelda.
According to a recent update on productionlist.com, The Legend of Zelda will be the next game franchise to receive film adaptation, with details of the live action movie, including the director and production company being uploaded to the site. Additionally, on March 29, the Nintendo Today! App revealed that the movie is set to release two years from now, on March 26, 2027.
Image Credit: Nintendo
A Live Action Legend of Zelda Film
As per the update, The Legend of Zelda will be directed by Maze Runner filmmaker Wes Ball with Shigeru Miyamoto and Avi Arad acting as producers T.S. Nowlin will be writing the screenplay. The film is a collaboration between Sony and Nintendo – competitors in the games console space, but partners in filmmaker as it turns out.
Productionlist.com also detailed that shooting will begin later this year, starting on Nov. 4, 2025 continuing until April 7, 2026. Principle photography will take place in New Zealand, with the country’s epic landscapes – familiar to fans of the Lord of the Rings films – serving as the backdrop for Hyrule and beyond.
As per a release:
“A live-action adaptation of the video game franchise. ‘The Legend of Zelda’ follows Link, a young warrior destined to protect the magical kingdom of Hyrule from the forces of darkness. The land is under threat from Ganon, a ruthless warlord who seeks the Triforce—an ancient relic said to grant limitless power. To stop him, Link must embark on a perilous journey, battling monstrous creatures, exploring treacherous dungeons, and solving intricate puzzles to uncover sacred artifacts that can aid him in his quest.”
Beyond this, there’s really not much else we know, with the cast and broader strokes of the plot not currently available. We know it’s going to be a live action movie, rather than a 3d affair like the Super Mario Bros. Movie, but nothing about whether the film will rely on CGI or practical effects.
A Legend of Zelda movie has been in the works for several years, with details first emerging in November 2023, as Sony attempted to greenlight this project. Now we have a set release date and filming schedule. Expect more details of the film to emerge over the next few months and years.