One of the more prominent questions surrounding the announcement of a live-action Legend of Zelda movie is which version of Link the film would follow, but a brand new incarnation would be the best way forward. Since The Super Mario Bros Movie proved that video game film adaptations can work, Zelda fans have been eager to see the same done with the stories of Hyrule. However, the plots within these games are far more complicated than Mario’s, with a complex lore and dozens of incarnations of its central character. Ultimately, the upcoming Zelda movie could pick between any of them.
With the first game being released in 1986, The Legend of Zelda is one of Nintendo’s oldest video game franchises. This initial title had a simple enough story—a boy named Link must help Princess Zelda fight the evil Ganon by gathering up the shards of the Triforce. From there, the games only got more complicated, with each taking place at a different time in Hyrule’s several centuries of history. Though Link, Zelda, and Ganon are all (more or less) included in each title, they are different incarnations of the versions that appeared in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Now, the Legend of Zelda movie can either imitate or add to these established stories.
The Legend Of Zelda Movie Would Have More Freedom With A New Incarnation Of Link
Though the Zelda movie could easily follow the plot of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time or The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, starting with a whole new version of Link in an unexplored period of Hyrule’s history would mean a lot more flexibility. Director Wes Ball could approach the character in any way he wanted—any actor could play the part without having to look particularly like any existing incarnations, and he could come from a vast variety of backgrounds and could behave in whatever way the writers see fit. Since there is only the vague precedence of other Links that have existed at different times, the Zelda movie wouldn’t be limited by the existing story and character.
Of course, this isn’t to say that the upcoming movie should throw the standards established by the Zelda video games out the window. From one title to the next, Link has fit within a certain mold, even if he wasn’t technically the same person. Fans will be looking for a green tunic, and Link most certainly must be brave and thoroughly good. However, since the character traditionally doesn’t speak in the games, the Zelda movie will have the problem of assigning him a more definitive personality. Doing this to a version of Link that longtime fans already feel they know could be disastrous, but a new incarnation of the character would be someone for them to get to know, just as they do every new game.
An Adaptation Of An Existing Zelda Game Could Work (But Would Risk Heavy Criticism)
If it doesn’t act like a brand-new installment in the franchise, then the Zelda movie would need to pick from the various existing storylines. This could certainly be a big hit. Titles like Ocarina of Time are longtime favorites and have a story that would be best equipped for a film adaptation. Then there is Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, which have elevated the Zelda games to a new level of popularity. A movie based on these two Nintendo Switch titles would surely appeal to an even larger audience base. However, since these games and their versions of Link are so beloved, fans are sure to be highly critical of how they are treated on the big screen.
As previously mentioned, Link is silent in all these games, with players traditionally able to choose from a variety of responses based on who they want the character to be. This means every Zelda fan has a different idea of Link’s character. Ultimately, no matter how the Zelda movie portrays Link in, say, an Ocarina of Time adaptation, there will be those who are disappointed. Since movie adaptations of beloved IP are already at considerable risk, this is something the film doesn’t need. Therefore, the best way forward is a version of the Link and the rest of Hyrule that no one has ever seen before.
Shigeru Miyamoto’s Involvement Means A Canon Addition To Zelda’s Existing Lore
Not just any screen adaptation could pull off adding a new story to an existing franchise, but with Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto involved with the project (via Screen Rant), whatever storyline the new movie features can be considered canon. After the success of The Super Mario Bros Movie (especially in comparison to past failures like the 1993 film Super Mario Bros.), it has become clear to Nintendo that they need to be a part of the movie-making process. The beloved video game company knows its characters better than anyone, and the ever-passionate Miyamoto would never let a screenwriter ruin Zelda.
Though Miyamoto hasn’t been a designer on a Zelda game since Ocarina of Time, he has overlooked and served as the final approval on the stories and designs of the various games since. Ultimately, the Zelda movie will be no different. Whatever new plot is introduced and however characters like Link are portrayed, it can be assumed that Miyamoto will have given his rather effective seal of approval. So, not only is the new Legend of Zelda movie a chance to see these characters brought to the screen, but it’s also a chance to see what is next for the various incarnations of the hero Link.
