10 June 2023 , 17:00
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The Legend of Zelda could be next for a animated film from Universal and Illumination, following the success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie according to insiders.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie – despite not being a critical darling – has been a huge success smashing box office records, becoming the highest grossing video game movie and is currently sitting as the third highest grossing animated movie of all time ahead of Frozen, but behind Frozen 2 and the terrible Lion King remake. Looks like Nintendo is pretty with its partnership with Universal and Illumination as film insider Jeff Sneider is reporting that the three companies are close to striking a deal on an animated The Legend of Zelda film.
Speaking on John Rocha's 'The Hot Mic' podcast Sneider said that Universal is close to "closing a big deal" for The Legend Of Zelda, and that it's looking like the next big Illumination x Nintendo crossover. Sneider also goes on to say that the deal is set to cost Universal a pretty penny and that Nintendo 'knows it's worth' after the success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
Sneider doesn't go into more detail aside from thinking that Nintendo would have a 'little more leeway' when casting Link compared to the casting of Mario. He also didn't comment on whether this would arrive first or the rumoured Donkey Kong film starring Seth Rogen which was first reported via Giant Freakin Robot back in 2021.
The Legend of Banana
Full disclosure, I was disappointed when I heard that the Minion-factory known as Illumination would be making The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and ended up loving it so I could be wrong once again. But while Mario fits the goofy nature of Illumination, Zelda is another beast entirely, one that doesn't feel right for Illumination.
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Considering Universal also owns Dreamworks who made the How to Train Your Dragon series and the fantastic Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, Zelda not being taken by Dreamworks feels like a missed opportunity, but maybe it's too busy with Shrek 5 who knows.
It is worth noting that Illumination hired former Netflix Director of Adult Animation Mike Moon last year, to form the new Moonlight label, which is set to broaden the range of films that Illumination produces, perhaps ones with more serious tones... like The Legend of Zelda? It's possible that Zelda is one of the reasons Illumination decided to form this new label, or at the very least it's very good timing.
I'm still not sold on an Illumination-produced The Legend of Zelda movie, but considering the quality of the animation in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, maybe the right writing team is all they need.