15 replies to this topic

[~~*Blondie*~~]

i realy hope this becomes a thing.

 

“The Legend of Zelda,” one of the most popular videogame series of all time, is in the works as a television show at Netflix.

The video streaming service is in the early stages of developing a live action series based on “Zelda,” about an ordinary boy named Link who must rescue a princess named Zelda and save a fantasy world called Hyrule, said a person familiar with the matter. As it seeks writers to work on the show, Netflix is describing it as “Game of Thrones” for a family audience, this person said.

The “Zelda” games have traditionally included swords and sorcery, like “Game of Thrones” or “Lord of the Rings,” but typically with a more light-hearted, kid-friendly tone.

Netflix is said to be working closely with Nintendo, the Japanese game developer that has made about 20 “The Legend of Zelda” games since the original, which was released in the U.S. in 1987.

Nintendo is very protective of its intellectual property and has allowed few adaptations over the years. An animated “Legend of Zelda” series ran for just one season in 1989. A 1993 movie based on Nintendo’s “Super Mario Bros.” was an infamous bomb.

As it is still seeking a writer to work on the series, Netflix has a long road to travel before a “Legend of Zelda” series actually becomes a reality. It’s also possible that Netflix or Nintendo will kill the project before it gets off the ground.

A Netflix spokeswoman declined to comment. A Nintendo spokesman said the company “doesn’t comment on rumors and speculation.”

 

http://www.wsj.com/a...es/BL-SEB-86552

 

 

[JRPomazon]

Game of Thrones for Kids? You mean, Lord of the Rings? Because I'm pretty sure Lord of the Rings fills that niche pretty well.

Ugh, I just don't know what to feel about ANY of this. Terror comes to mind. Terror and curiosity.

[TheAvengerLever]

Lord of the Rings is as much for kids as Game of Thrones is. Sure, it doesn't have the sex stuff, but its still very much a mature read.

 

This, however, is awesome. I learned of this yesterday on another forum I frequent. If they do it right, its potential could be great. Video Game adaptations have gotten so much better since the late-eighties and early-nineties.

[Green Goblin]

If it's written like a more audience-friendly Game of Thrones......I daresay it might be able to work. Not "OoT-raised-by-Kokiri" Link, but maybe "LttP-Orphan-raised-by-uncle" Link. Political dealings involving Hyrule and other nations (Holodrum, Labrynna. Maybe an allusion to Koholint Island or Termina), the goings on in Kakariko village, maybe warring with the non-Hyruleans (Zoras and Gorons) until Link gets on the scene and initiates some kinda peace, all while the Gerudo prince is manipulating events from behind the curtain to better benefit his eventual coup. 

Edited by Green Goblin, 07 February 2015 - 11:56 AM.

[Sir Deimos]

I don't like it. They'll have to win me over.

Edit: My fear is that all of the source material will be the newer games. Specifically, I'm nervous of them looking at Twilight Princess. If the show draws more from Zelda's roots, I would feel more favorable about the whole thing.

Edited by Sir Deimos, 07 February 2015 - 04:03 PM.

[DarkJuno]

It COULD work, since just because something is family friendly doesn't automatically mean it'll be soft and cliched and dull. It's just that I have no faith on Hollywood to do so. I'd like to have more complex stories and characterizations in this show, but nowadays that automatically means lots of sex and gratuitous gore too, which I wouldn't want for a Zelda series (or game for that matter). I think the Lord of the Rings thing is apt because while there is a lot of depth and heft to the material, it's still a basic Good vs Evil story where good wins, even with some of the more complex characters tossed in there, whereas in Game of Thrones it's not nearly as clear cut and the people who do come across good also tend to die horribly.

 

Still, given how neither Nintendo nor Netflix are even talking about it shows it's still just discussions and they're not even remotely ready to reveal it. It'll probably be nothing, but who knows. If it's good, great, if not, oh well, let's wait for the next game.

[Hana-Nezumi]

The article cites no sources besides an unnamed "person familiar with the matter". I'm extremely skeptical.

[Ken the Wandering Soul]

The lack of confirmation from either side makes sense, though I can see it being concievable that there is a preliminary talk in the works. I remember there were the murmorings about a Metroid movie at some point. Along those same lines though... I sincerely doubt this will happen. I guess we'll see what happens though. I doubt Nintendo would want any sort of studio to handle one of their star IPs unless they were absolutely confident it would be handled with the respect it is felt deserved.

 

As for what it could actually be... I guess count me in with the crowd that will need to be convinced. While media that spins off from videogames has gotten better in recent years, I'd still feel really careful about seeing where they'd go with the story. Naturally there's the questions of how to handle characterization of Link for example, but they might be able to sidestep that by focusing on a multitude of other characters, maybe that political intrigue stuff that was mentioned.

[Jasi]

I'm super skeptical about this...I mean I love playing Zelda games as much as the next person on here but the stories and characters are all SO archetypal. This is true of LOTR as well but in that case the focus is on world-building rather than stories/characters, right? I don't think we can say the same for the Zelda world. I love the gameplay of Zelda, but I don't think the stories are so amazing. I'm finding it quite impossible to imagine a compelling Zelda TV show.

[JRPomazon]

As long as the folks in charge of this production actually know the material they are working with, that would be a huge step up than most video game projects in film over the past 20 years. If they start pulling crap out of nowhere and attempting to pass it off as "creative new directions" then the fanbase is boned.

[Egann]

Netflix HAS done some good stuff for their exclusive content, so it's not completely unreasonable.

 

I still don't think it will happen, though. Anime and books have much more high fantasy than TV and movies for a reason: it's hard for a TV team to do high fantasy on a reasonable budget, so TV producers ignore high fantasy and instead replace it with urban fantasy and SF because those typically have cheaper effect and set budgets. It's not like there haven't been any, but there aren't any names I would trust Zelda to, at least in the West. Nintendo would likely be wise to bring over an anime writing and directing team and hire a competent effects team locally.

 

So it's possible, but unlikely.

 

And while I'm dreaming, I'd like the Jim Henson company to do the effects. I really think practical effects are the way to go for Zelda, and Farscape still holds up well to this day.

[Fin]

And while I'm dreaming, I'd like the Jim Henson company to do the effects. I really think practical effects are the way to go for Zelda, and Farscape still holds up well to this day.

I didn't really have anything to say about this topic, but oh my god yes. Zelda with muppets would be absolutely amazing.

[Veteran]

This is never going to happen. Shame on the Internet for believing it. Shame.

[~~*Blondie*~~]

This is never going to happen. Shame on the Internet for believing it. Shame.

we can have our dreams

[Wolf O'Donnell]

It's a bit odd, that it's potentially taken so long before Nintendo has even considered doing this again.

As Bob "Moviebob" Chipman said in his latest The Big Picture episode, Nintendo has some very marketable franchies that would do well as media. And what have Nintendo got that's under their belt? A piss-poor Mario movie and a Kirby TV show that is pretty obscure compared to how well known Nintendo's franchises are. You could potentially reskin Willow or Legend with Legend of Zelda characters and motifs, and you'd be pretty much be part way to getting a decent movie/TV film.

Legend of Zelda is not like Mario. It's not bright, cutsey and pretty coloured. (Admittedly, the cel-shaded games were that, but not all the games are cel-shaded). It would work outside of a cartoon setting. Link doesn't have to be a silent protagonist either; just make sure he hisn't a verbose one. There are characters who say little. In a movie or TV film setting, Link can easily convey things through actions rather than words. He'd obviously have to say something, but he doesn't have to say much.

[Hana-Nezumi]

Mr. Iwata has finally addressed it: http://time.com/3747...o-satoru-iwata/

In early February, the Wall Street Journal reported that Netflix was developing a live-action series based on Nintendos Legend of Zelda franchise. But Mr. Iwata says those rumors are inaccurate.

"As of now, I have nothing new to share with you in regard to the use of our IPs for any TV shows or films, but I can at least confirm that the article in question is not based on correct information," says Iwata.

(no surprise to me)