13 Years Before Landing ‘Zelda’ Movie, Director Wes Ball Called It the ‘Next Avatar-Like’ Film and Said He ‘Could Never Hope to Have the Chance to Direct It’

Video game fans got a huge surprise when Nintendo announced Nov. 7 that it is developing a live-action film based on The Legend of Zelda alongside Sony Pictures. The film is being directed by Wes Ball, best known for helming three “Maze Runner” movies. He’s also set to relaunch the “Planet of the Apes” franchise after a seven-year hiatus with next year’s “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.”

While Ball’s hiring might’ve come as a surprise to some, Zelda fans quickly discovered one of the director’s tweets from 13 years ago in which he posted about how his dream of one day directing a Zelda movie would most likely never happen.

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“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,” Ball posted on Jan. 29, 2010. Flash forward over 13 years later, and Ball is helming the Hyrule-set video game adaptation. As his tweet resurfaced online, Ball reposted a gif of “Back to the Future” on his X/Twitter profile.

Does this mean audiences can expect a motion-capture heavy adaptation of the video game? It sounds like it’s at least a possibility, although nothing is confirmed at this stage in development.

Zelda creator and game developer Shigeru Miyamoto announced the movie on Nintendo’s social media channels. “This is Miyamoto. I have been working on the live-action film of The Legend of Zelda for many years now with Avi Arad-san, who has produced many mega hit films,” he wrote. “I have asked Avi-san to produce this film with me, and we have now officially started the development of the film with Nintendo itself heavily involved in the production. It will take time until its completion, but I hope you look forward to seeing it.”

Arad’s credits include every live-action “Spider-Man” movie and the “Spider-Verse” animated films. The film will be co-financed by Nintendo and Sony Pictures Entertainment, with more than 50% financed by Nintendo. Sony will handle the theatrical distribution. “Jurassic World” screenwriter Derek Connolly is penning the film. Ball is also producing with Joe Hartwick Jr. under their Oddball Entertainment banner.

Plot and casting details are still under wraps.

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