‘The Legend of Zelda’ Director Wants Film To Feel Like “Live-Action Miyazaki”

The worlds of The Legend of Zelda and Studio Ghibli might just collide in Wes Ball’s upcoming project. The Maze Runner franchise director has shared his vision for his live-action Legend of Zelda film, and it involves bringing both his favourite works together.

Speaking to EW, he describes it as an “awesome fantasy-adventure movie that isn’t like Lord of the Rings, it’s its own thing. I’ve always said, I would love to see a live-action [Hayao] Miyazaki. That wonder and whimsy that he brings to things, I would love to see something like that.”

“It’s going to be awesome,” Ball added. “My whole life has led up to this moment. I grew up on Zelda and it is the most important property, I think, that’s untapped IP, if you will. So we very much are working hard to do something. We’re not just trying to do it because we can. We want to make something really special.”

It’s dream come true for the filmmaker, who has long yearned to bring the beloved franchise to the big screen. “Since I could never even hope to have the chance to direct it… the next big mo-cap Avatar-like movie should be… THE LEGEND OF ZELDA,” he wrote in a X/Twitter post dating back to 2010, fresh out of watching James Cameron’s Avatar. Ball admitted to have forgotten about it, highlighting that someone dug it up after he was confirmed as director.

Nintendo announced in November that the Legend of Zelda film is currently in development, with creator and game developer Shigeru Miyamoto serving as producer. Avi Arad, whose credits include every live-action Spider-Man movie and the Spider-Verse animated features, is co-producing, while Jurassic World screenwriter Derek Connolly will pen the script. 

Plot and casting details are still under wraps (we have our list of top picks), but the video game series follows elf-like warrior Link as he fights alongside Zelda, the princess of Hyrule, to protect their land from dark forces led by big bad Ganon. Both Sony and Nintendo will finance the film, which has no release date.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.