The Zelda Movie Might Not Be What You Think…

The Zelda Movie will be directed by Wes Ball. Could his filmography tell us anything about the upcoming Nintendo film?
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Mouse Guard Demo: • Canceled MouseGuard Mo...
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#Zelda #legendofzelda #zeldamovie

[@miphasgrace8980]

The fact that Wes is an actual Zelda fan gives me so much hope. This seems like it’s going to be a passion project for him rather than another big movie he needs to make. He’s a fan so he knows the charm Zelda has. If it’s a CG movie using motion capture I genuinely think it’ll be the right move and my hopes for the movie just shot up

[@lovesgibson]

Yup. And that’s 2010. Long before BOTW, so he’s an OG fan

[@KarlSainte]

@@lovesgibsonI was going to say this. This is probably one of the failures of the MCU right now. Directors with vision but no real connection to the characters.

[@lovesgibson]

@@tinker_belle41 I’m unaware, who are some of the people they are wanting to play Link? I remember seeing a video where they want the tall thin white woman from the Euphoria show to play Zelda lol

[@ryanchetwynd]

@@lovesgibson funny enough that’s even before skyward sword was released 😂

[@lovesgibson]

@@tinker_belle41 yeah, probably depends if they’re going to somewhat follow one of the zelda titles storylines… do some kind of mashup… or create an entirely new story/new take on the Zelda world. I really don’t think they will hire any actors to play Zelda and link that are under 18, and I feel like whatever age they are supposed to be in the movie maybe won’t even be revealed, it may simply be that it’s supposed to be an “adult link”

[@mitwhitgaming7722]

The fact that the producer talked about a CG, live-action hybrid in the same vein as Avatar, gives me some hope. I would still prefer a fully animated movie, but I will hold my judgment until we at least see a trailer. If it looks anything like Mouse Guard, that would be incredible.

[@JohnDoe-tm9wz]

Sensible answer.

[@ZeranZeran]

.... talks of Avatar gave you hope? I'm sorry, What?

[@karo3156]

@@ZeranZeran it would fit live action Zelda so yes it gives people hope

[@megapro95]

Sonic the Hedgehog and Detective Pikachu are both great examples of live action movies that aren't traditional live action imo. I'd love to see more mixing of this kind of love action/CGI movies.

[@rarer_Dem0nZ]

I highly suggest you go and watch the ten minutes of footage from the (sadly) cancelled mouse guard movie which he was also directing, it's the perfect example of what I believe he's going for and you won't be disappointed

[@matthewmuir8884]

I was concerned about Wes Ball as the choice of director, but learning that he's a big fan who has been wanting to make a Zelda movie for a long time and a big user of mocap technology does make me feel a lot better.

[@SaltySirenFloriduh]

This gives me hope🙌🏻

[@CrownofMischief]

I dunno, M. Night Shyamalan said he was a fan of the Last Airbender, so I try not to put too much stock into when directors say things like that

[@matthewmuir8884]

@@CrownofMischief It's a good thing then that M. Night Shyamalan never made a Last Airbender movie. The Earth King has invited me to Lake Laoghai, and I am honoured to accept his invitation. Jokes aside, you do make a good point. I'm just saying that I have more hope than I did before.

[@thatonepossum5766]

@@CrownofMischief I don’t know how much I believe that he was actually a fan of ATLA. What fan would so thoroughly destroy everything good about something they apparently like? I could understand a new writer making bad fanfiction, but making movies is this guy’s _job_ .

[@ewerton8463]

they all are fans... just like that lady who directed the witcher netflix show..m

[@mello3791]

Seeing that Wes Ball tweet from 2010 gave me chills. We are potentially in for something LEGENDARY.

[@olivemoon1871]

Imagine having a dream from 13 years ago just come true like that holy shit

[@charlesbingham]

Bro they would prob need 200 million for a lotr / avatar lvl production. I'm mildly optimistic but internally excited af

[@Ellary_Rosewood]

This really needs to be a passion project, just like The Lord of the Rings was. That's what made that trilogy so great and why they remain (in my opinion) the best films of all time. To have the entire crew be so obsessed with the original source material and spend years painstakingly crafting each detail down to every individual piece of chainmail... That's what we need. This movie makes me so nervous, but it has so much potential to be great.

[@ar_xiv]

for sure. for me, it's less about the mocap and more about the amazing set design and camera tricks and practical effects

[@Apollo1989V]

The crew of LOTR knew the limits of CGI at the time. CGI has improved over time, but it is being used pretty sloppily.

[@fleurpayne3620]

i think we are all nervous because we know it could be messed up

[@birdflox1337]

The fact that Nintendo is investing so much of their own money into this really makes me hopeful. This isn't just an IP being licensed out to an established studio so they can make it their own thing, this really might just be Nintendo's own creative project with merely some help from another studio.

[@FancyTophatDude]

Haha cute that you'd think that any movie would be allowed to have that kind of production pipeline today.

[@Lionofanamechanger]

i’m hyped and terrified for this film. might sound unusual, but the instinct is insane

[@sslocke]

Pretty sure everyone feels this way. Nintendo is pretty protective of their games so I think it will be treated with care. At least I hope

[@Rocco049]

@@sslocke the original Mario movie would like a word

[@riahisama]

If it flops it means they're going to focus on the games, if it's a success then that's self explanatory. It's a win-win scenario in my eyes.

[@darken27]

​@rocco5361 the original Super Mario Bros movie (although to this day, one of my absolute favorites, despite the flaws) was made at a time when video game movies weren't really a thing. They assumed that the mario namesake would be enough to draw audiences, and in turn, profits, regardless of whether it was good or not. It's specifically why they have been so hesitant to pursue movies using their characters since then.

[@nahor88]

I really hope Zeltik is right about the CG direction... as someone that has cosplayed Link multiple times, it's HARD to get his look exactly how it is in the games. I'm sure with the huge budget this movie will have they could get it very close, but we're accustomed to the game physics making him move a certain way, especially his hat. Aonuma himself said they got rid of Link's hat cuz they couldn't make it "look cool" anymore with the updated animations and art style. When you get the classic Link outfits in BOTW/TOTK, he's kinda right that the cap moves really awkwardly while Link is running. The shield on his back is the other oddity... it's not abundantly clear HOW he gets his shield to sit perfectly on his back. The best assumption is that it's hooked to his scabbard, but how?

[@cutelilpenguin85]

Videos like this are why Zeltik is one of the best Zelda channels. You don’t just regurgitate the news or react to it-you look at things in a different light and bring us new information. Thank you for this!

[@Madchimpz]

What I also like is that his takes are generally realistic and reasonable. No crazy theorizing and ass-pulls, or spending much of the video talking what he wants unless it's the purpose of the video. One of the reasons I unsubscribed from commonwealth realm due to all the clickbait titles and the videos being nothing but crazy expectations and desires. Zeltik is the most professional Zelda youtuber, and yes maybe the accent skews my perception a bit.

[@Ramekinnz]

The fact that the director is passionate about the project gives me lots of hope.

[@kidrobot.]

lots of directors are passionate about their projects

[@TheBreadPirate]

It's going to be wild to see this movie. Good. . . or bad.

[@Tiperia]

agreed! I'm rather hyped but this can go either way

[@Cre4tor.]

@@Tiperiaexactly

[@joshuakolton9955]

As long as they eat some bread.

[@Dragonknight62442]

Hi Bread! I agree, I'm still going to see it,if it's bad or good.

[@incognitoman3656]

Ryan Gosling as the Link between Me, the Hero of Drives, the Ken between worlds.

[@matthewleonmartin]

You said Nintendo is likely financing over half the movie's budget, and that being well over hundreds of thousands of dollars. I think you meant hundreds of millions. The movie, if it is an Avatar-style CG movie, will cost maybe 300-400 million, so I can see Nintendo putting up 250 million. It's chump change to them and it gives them total creative control over the process, which is precisely what Avi Arad doesn't need to have.

[@Zeltik]

Lol whoops, yes, I meant millions!

[@albertlucero1980]

That's a crucial point. Nintendo will ensure they have creative control over their IP and they have the money to do it. That's the one thing that gives me hope for this film. They care about their IP's.

[@tumultuousv]

Not necessarily chump change. It's still an investment. Especially if it fails.

[@birdflox1337]

​@@tumultuousvI'm genuinely wondering if this could realistically fail, as in earning less money than you're spending. The Mario Movie earned over 1 billion and that was for mostly kid audiences, if this film makes even half of that it could even out.

[@tumultuousv]

@@birdflox1337 yeah but that's the thing. Mario absolutely has the advantage of EVERYONE knowing Mario lol. Adults went to watch it because they know it. Kids went to it because it's animated and Mario. Zelda definitely could appeal to different audiences, but it will probably be more expensive than Mario to make, and won't have as much of a direct impact monetary wise unless it's a masterpiece. Even if it is amazing on all fronts, doesn't mean non Zelda or gaming fans would watch it. There's definitely money to be made though, it just needs to be marketed correctly and be a good film. 300 million is a massive budget either way, but definitely could make 1 billion

[@viljamtheninja]

You know what, a full mo-cap movie might be a really clever way of tackling the problems that come with casting actual actors for these legendary characters. I kind of like this idea.

[@Mooshrambo]

My biggest fear right now is that they won't keep Link as a short king. We need more short kings in stories.

[@herryami]

omg yes pls let him stay short hollywood just this once

[@himignicest1571]

AMEN

[@ariana1042]

Yes we need our 5 foot king

[@lordofuzkulak8308]

@@tinker_belle41depends on where they look for actors from. It might be easier to find a shorter actor if they cast an Asian actor in the role than a European actor for example. Also, there’s probably more shorter actors than we realise, it’s just that they have a harder time getting work because casting directors prefer tall actors for leading men. Edit: thinking about it they could possibly compensate for a Link actor who’s a couple inches too tall by making sure all the other actors are a little taller than normal, thus making Link look shorter by comparison. And of course this issue goes away completely if they go the full mocap route as they can just digitally shrink the model down in the computer.

[@lordofuzkulak8308]

@@herryamiand androgynous/femboi. Don’t make him macho Hollywood!

[@Drakull_Art]

They should cast The Rock as every Goron

[@geslisond]

Could be like the "Terrible Fate" fan made short film. That was filmed in real environments then they added characters in after

[@parkfever]

OH YES!!! Now THAT would be a Zelda movie I’d watch

[@John_the_Paul]

I loved that video!

[@TheToneBender]

That 2010 tweet literally made me do a 180 on this movie. I am now fully on board. If that was his sentiment back then, then he is the right man for the job. Even if it isn't mocap, he'd still be a good choice for director. (But god, please have it be 100% mocap). Also, Ember Lab made a Majora's Mask short that looks really good. So I hope they get involved as well.

[@rocknatex5013]

Actually, yeah. Terrible Fate is a great example of what a mocap CGI Zelda movie might look like.

[@birdflox1337]

I'd rather have the Hylians be live actors while the monsters are mocap, with a blend of real and fake environments.

[@discreetscrivener7885]

I do wonder what route they will go for the creature designs in the movie. I think it will be a tricky balancing act to get them looking like they belong in a live action world without making them look silly or creepy in the wrong way.

[@brianp6859]

Yeah except a lot of stuff in Zelda is pretty creepy depending on the game so 🤷‍♂️

[@michaelkaduck1915]

I already imagined they would use Motion Capture for this film. It would make sense to capture an actor's performance in a digital character. It can be done really well, in films like The Adventures of Tintin. Plus, Wes is a huge Zelda fan, and with Nintendo closely overseeing this, I can imagine something like Avatar with this. I am much more optimistic when imagining this.

[@gracefulannie-grcflannie-]

I hadn't even thought about mo-cap. The Zora, Rito, and Goron races will almost certainly use mo-cap. It's also pretty likely for Ganondorf. While it's possible that the Hylians would also be mo-cap, but Miyamoto's repeated use of "live action" in the announcement makes me think Link and Zelda's actors will basically be filmed like in a regular live action movie.

[@Vaderduder]

As I've said before, I'd like to see it as a mixture of both like Lord of the Rings. And hopefully, a trilogy based on Ocarina of Time!

[@undergroundindy]

"Audiences are ready for a full CG adult animated movie with a strong live action sensibility" I would agree! Look at Blue Eye Samurai and see exactly this

[@ericpeterson6520]

Something akin to the Spiderverse movies (though with appropriately toned-down visuals) using a refined version of TotK's cell shading and this mo-cap animation would look incredible. And hey, look at that, the production company picked for this also made the Spiderverse movies! Things are starting to come to what I like to call, gether

[@Nintendofan91]

Thanks for this deep dive on Wes Ball! It’s also important to note that just because the producer has had his hands in some pretty poor projects, that doesn’t mean this movie will be bad necessarily. Producers are usually just the financial backers of a project. With someone like Wes as the director and Miyamoto being heavily involved creatively, I’m fairly optimistic.

[@fleurpayne3620]

this is so reassuring, it will be insane

[@birdflox1337]

Yeah, Avi Arad has produced the absolute worst and the absolute best. He sucks as a producer, he sometimes steps out of line and messes with the creative vision of a film when it's not his place to do so, but as long as Nintendo doesn't allow for that to happen he shouldn't have any impact on this film.

[@heartgrenade8359]

I would find theory videos about the movie really interesting. Topics like how much they will lean into the real life culture influences like Hyrule = England, Gerudo = Egypt, Sheika = Japan. Also things like which game would be most movie adaptable, how much of the world should be explored to keep it from being overwhelming, and things like that.

[@rocknatex5013]

If you remember all the theory videos Zeltik and Commonwealth Realm did for Zelda Wii U (Breath of the Wild) back in the day, I'd love to see them bring those kinds of videos back for the Zelda movie.

[@jskywalker58]

if there gonna adapt one of the game storylines i think ocarina of time is the best choice

[@slayr4170]

@@jskywalker58or maybe skyward sword if they want to have sequels

[@glitterbug5678]

In terms of which one I think would make the most interesting backgrounds, environments, and atmosphere twilight princess would be the one to go with. If we're going with which one would pull the biggest audience I'd say definitely ocarina of time. If we're trying to set it up to potentially do sequels if it does well, starting at the beginning of the story and going with skyward sword could be interesting if executed well.

[@felixba]

The research, storytelling and use of music in this video was insane! Sir, you are a treasure to the Zelda community!

[@gyromurphy]

Ive been waiting almost 35 years for this. Watching my parents play Legend of Zelda in the late 80s is quite literally one of if not my very first memory. It might sound silly to some people, but this video game series means alot to me. Ive always hoped a movie would be made, but the older I got, the more I decided there was no way it could be made. I pray they dont try to hollywood up this movie... and hope they dont make it for (in Critical Drinker voice) "Modern Audiences". Please. Please let this be a good movie. Please...

[@kymo6343]

I'm in the same boat, I'm just about as old as Zelda itself. I have Zelda scratch cards that were made the year after my birth, still unscratched in a binder. I am expecting GOLD, gold like the TRIFORCE, not just silver arrows! XP

[@ladylozwolf7cffc787]

I had the same thing happen where watching my parents play Twilight Princess was one of if not my very first memory, and it remains to be my favorite game still

[@itznakoma]

Same.. I'm hoping they don't add crap into it... If so, I'm certain they will get backlash. Other than that, I am super excited... and nervous lol.

[@john.s7559]

Your not being silly you are experiencing. What most fans love about the game.. rather its been experiencing past down from parents to children or a childhood memory growing up..I have heard some people say they have the best memories while playing zelda cause it reminds them of memories of someone who has passed Away..

[@gyromurphy]

@@kymo6343 .

[@kristenfreeman9139]

THIS IS THE MOST EXCITED I HAVE EVER BEEN FOR A MOVIE

[@Littlefish1239]

Same

[@derekmunson3695]

Not me. These people's track records are NOT impressive.

[@a.jthomas6132]

Here is is what I wanted to see in a live action Legend of Zelda movie: -History of Hyrule, the Goddess Hylia, Demon King Demise, three Goddesses(Din, Nayru, and Farore) and the Triforce - Ganondorf as the main baddy with some more in depth into his character with better witting ( which I Absolutely agree with your statement. - Link x Princess Zelda's relationship ( a build up where they started out as friends at first until their bond grows even further as they become lovers as they are willing to sacrifice and love for each other over the course of their cinematic journey) - A young and unfamiliar cast for the role of Link and Zelda - Link’s inner struggle between being a Hero of Hyrule and his own happiness. - Link's own family like his uncle, father and lil sister - Zelda’s dilemma of her role of sealing Ganon/Ganondorf away while she wants to forge her own path (as we have seen in Breath of the Wild); caught in between being what’s expected from society versus being who she wants to be. - An original story ( not a copy of Ocarina of Time, Breath of the Wild, or Tears of the Kingdom) that is well structured with it's own set of characters, a new version of Hyrule, and a epic action- fantasy with a dash of gritty realism that is build by confident writers.

[@RSanchez111]

It would be so cool if the opening credits sequence was a retelling of the Hyrule creation story with the three goddesses.

[@a.jthomas6132]

@@RSanchez111 That would of a great starting point. But what is important was adding in the conflict between Hylia and the Demise after the Triforce came to existence.

[@rocknatex5013]

Yup. That's pretty much what I'd want to see as well.

[@jskywalker58]

since you brought up a uncle and little sister in links's family maybe the uncle could be link's uncle from a link to the past, and the lil sister can be aryll from wind waker

[@a.jthomas6132]

@@jskywalker58 There is also the father from Breath of the Wild as well. All of them are very important to which gives us a sight where all of Link’s character traits are coming from.

[@Liv15152]

If they do the mo-cap option, I’d like to see Patrick Page voice Ganondorf. He’s a Broadway actor who most recently won tons of praise as Hades in the Hadestown show. It would translate well to Ganon.

[@jmn327]

My personal preference has always been either hand-drawn animation (said below, but Ghibli-style is the dream for something like this, even if it's not a realistic possibility) or live action; CGI/mo-cap isn't bad to me, but just isn't my preference. Still, ultimately the movie will rise or fall on its characters, story, and worldbuilding/immersive qualities - any style could potentially make that work.

[@iridescent.fluorescence]

I always wanted Ghibli to pick it up!!

[@crystalalumina]

I personally don't see why people pick Ghibli specifically, I guess for something like the newer games it makes sense, but in general I just don't picture it, I always had two visions (maybe 3, but the third one isn't something I would prefer) either something like that Kid Icarus animated series AKA the same animation from Palutena's trailer in Smash For or something like the promo art from Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks, those were my best interpretation on how a Zelda adaptation would look like back then, the third option I considered was something like the Final Fantasy movies, but that's more of a desperate option

[@jmn327]

@@crystalalumina I think there are a few reasons; one is that the classic Ghibli style, which goes back to the 80s, feels of a time with the original 1987 Zelda. Beyond that, Ghibli's long history of detailed backgrounds and environments, especially of forests and mysterious places (e.g. Totore, Mononoke, Spirited Away, etc.), fit what a lot of people picture for Zelda, and their work on stories like Castle in the Sky and Nausicaa make it seem like they could capture the character dynamics, action, and settings people often associate with the series. One of Miyazaki's hallmark as a filmmaker is his focus on the "silence" in cinema, and Zelda is a series really stepped in meditation on place and environment, complete with a silent hero. Obviously Breath of the Wild was the Zelda game to feel the *most* influenced by that style, but there's always been a bit of a vibe they could mesh together. Again, though, Nintendo will want this to reach the widest possible audience, so there's no way it'll happen, anyway.

[@RKanth54]

@@jmn327ty for being honest with ur last sentence. nintendo chases profits like any company, and they knew zelda could be a high fantasy epic akin to lord of the rings if they played it right, which is why they opted for live action. this would appeal to mass audiences moreso than mario

[@eramos8916]

The thing is there is an over saturated anime animation. I think live action could work better for Zelda.

[@SchriyJ]

Hey Zeltik, I'm currently a Screenwriting BFA at USC's School Of Cinematic Arts and I've worked in the industry for a few years. I'd like to give a bit of a perspective on how Mo-Cap and digital cinematography is actually used within the film industry. Much of the time, Mo-cap is a MASSIVE money saver within the industry, however, that being said for films such as Avatar, and Planet Of The Apes, money becomes a much bigger issue. When films use entirely digital characters and scenes that try to mimic photo-realistic filmmaking, things start to go downhill due to budget constraints. Having live actors play human characters is normally the standard (such as in the first Avatar film). So, as you said, Zora, Goron, and Rito will most likely be Mo-Caped. that being said, I want to make it clear that despite the success of films like Avatar, and Planet Of The Apes, most of the time when fully CG films are made to be photo-realistic, they fall into the uncanny valley rather easily and quickly. My personal hope is for Wes to create the Zelda film more akin to a mix of Lord Of The Rings level storytelling, with the action and CGI of his Maze Runner films. Best, -Riley

[@p__wing]

This is fascinating, and is a lot to think about. Zeltik is the tops among Zelda KZbinrs IMO because of stuff like this.

[@Strawberry_Rose27]

I was hoping that Studio Gibli or possibly even Laika would make the movie. So it scared me a bit because it was going to be live action. Hearing that Wes is a Zelda fan and good at motion capture gives me some hope. I’m going to need to see a trailer to really be exited.

[@SuspiciousdishesGaming]

Came here to say this. Was really hoping for a ghibli film, but the fact the director is a fan is good. I’m keeping my hopes low for the moment.

[@lilkorok]

if there's no beedle or koroks in the zelda movie i'm walking out of the cinema

[@Lionofanamechanger]

lmao same

[@storytime380]

“THANK YOU!!!!” - Beedle

[@lordofuzkulak8308]

If you don’t see any Koroks, it’s not because they’re not in the film, it’s just that your heart isn’t pure enough to see them like Link can. 😜

[@arrownaut6820]

​@@lordofuzkulak8308No one on Zeldatwt is seeing the koroks

[@TruestColors]

This idea was something I hadn't considered, and all of the supporting evidence suggesting that it might be the case fills me with a lot of hope and excitement ❤

[@integral9x]

The potential for this movie is immense. May the stars align for The Legend Of Zelda big motion picture movie ✨💫

[@francoperalta5986]

That tweet was before the first Maze Runner came out. Also It's not just Wes Ball who's had aspirations for a Zelda movie for a long time. Its been confirmed that Miyamoto and Avi have been in talks on this movie for a good 10 years. And judging by Miyamoto's statement acknowledging that creating a film that pleases will be an uphill battle. It had to have been more than just negotiations. Actual ideas and planning must've been on the table. Only they know when or how Ball got on their radar and them trusting him.

[@ArcadeTheatre]

Really interesting idea. Great investigation, Zeltik.

[@concordia_jp]

Finding out that Wes is a Zelda lifted such a weight off my shoulders. I’m getting more and more excited by the day!

[@laurend2607]

Thank you Zeltik for giving me a shred of optimism! I was pretty bummed by the announcement initially but now I have a smidgeon of hope this might be good after all.

[@marche800]

This could be gorgous if the really lean into stylizing the CG environments to reflect the artwork of the franchise

[@ebusive]

I think that some of the physical feats that Link can pull off almost require him to be mo-capped or animated.

[@ddsjgvk]

Only in games with the power blaclet or golden gauntlets. And twilight princess with the goron boss fights. But you can make a goron ball form into. A prop

[@timtnt1293]

Considering how accurate Nintendo likes to be with the representation of their characters, motion capture seems like the option they're more likely to go with. Nintendo is probably going to try and bring the franchise to life as much as they can, and this seems like the best way to do it in my opinion (if they aren't going with animation of course).

[@HyruleGamer]

I really love the possibility of this being a big mo-cap film, I could definitely see it being a fantastic blend of real actors and digital work! Who knows though, I'm excited to see our first snippet/tease which will hopefully give us some answers 👀

[@PlayOnLetsPlay]

You’ve done a good job of putting all the pieces together here it definitely gives me hope

[@gregpl9363]

thanks for this vid man, feel stupid i didnt think of mo cap in relation to live action, but this ( and it probably will be this type of concept/movie) takes away a lot of the worries i had for the zelda movie. just cant imagine any real actor in green make up and dyed red hair playing ganondorf, thatd just look ridiculous no matter which way you look at it. but mo capping real actors and changing the imagery through cgi that opens up a world of potential. Wes being the director gives hope too, the comment about TLoZ needing a live action mo capped movie is just icing. good vid!

[@protectorpaladin4358]

With how talented Wes has become with mocap, and where the tech is; I think he, and Nintendo could make something nearly timeless if they went full mocap. SO it's something I'd love to see for sure.

[@prodarkzy]

The fact that Wes is very passionate and has been hoping and praying to do this forever gives me a lot more hope in this movie.

[@sotomonte_]

Imagine something like The Adventures of Tintin (2011) but with the improvements in cg of more than a decade!! I don't imagine them using real time renderers for the final images though.

[@jamesmccloud1002]

I used to be on the "Link shouldn't have a voice" train. But after playing BotW and TotK... Link really needs a voice. I wouldn't be surprised if they use this movie as an excuse to try to find voice for him. If it's received well, it may even stick long term for the games as well.

[@Uncreative_Username]

Yeah, in the Manga they did a really good job at giving him a voice and personality.

[@Glitchyy07]

@@Uncreative_Usernametrue, as long as Link is characterized well I’m fine with him talking

[@Mari_Izu]

@@Uncreative_Username Exactly, people sleep on the mangas and when someone say Link works as a talkative character, they only think about the 80s cartoon made to be comedic.

[@ellamiramontes9872]

I really appreciate this video. Like many fans, I'm nervous that this movie will be less of a passion project and more of a cash-grab. It's very hopeful to have this perspective with Wes Ball's old tweets.

[@jimskim8568]

Link: *Opens chest and holds item up into the air* Zelda: "Umm.. what are you doing..." Link: *Turns around and blushes* *Audience laughs*

[@jessicamadsen7092]

Literally, to me, the idea of mo-cap and CGI is the way they will SAVE this movie. They can make the characters look so much more like the games and not have them look silly in costumes, especially when it comes to Link. That very well may be the reason they chose Wes to direct it.

[@kidrobot.]

it is almost 2024, they can make things look good in real life with costumes

[@thobias7292]

My big question is: Are they going with the new look for Link (blue tunic no cap) or the classic (green tunic and cap)?

[@djpegao]

Forget the look, what Timeline/game are they tackling? That's the biggest question for me honestly

[@afolabiajayi3128]

I think both will feature.

[@Mr.Foxhat]

​@@djpegaoI kind of hope it is the first half of Twilight Princess. I would like the movie to end with Zelda saving Midna and Link pulling the Master Sword.

[@matthewmuir8884]

I'm hoping the green tunic. I also hope that they go with Link being left-handed.

[@matthewmuir8884]

@@djpegao I imagine it most likely will be an original story that won't be within the timeline.

[@mototoe]

A Zelda movie with FF7 remake graphics. That's what I need

[@LoyalSage]

Knowing he tweeted that makes me feel much better about the chances of this project going well, just knowing that the director had aspirations to make a Zelda movie long before he had any chance to do so. It’s not like they’ve found someone who is like, “Ugh, I guess if it’ll pay the bills I’ll try my best to make a good movie despite having to use your silly video game characters.” They’ve found someone who knows Zelda and sees its potential.

[@Mabbit_YL]

I hadn't even considered this, but I think (hope) that it will likely have some heavy elements of CG for environments, creatures, and some races, with the more humanesque races being live actors. While I had hopes that it would have production similar to LOTR, the more I think, I realize it would be hard to film real environments for things like Death Mountain or Zora's domain. You can't exactly just fly everyone out to New Zealand for that. I will say that it is a huge relief now knowing that Wes Ball seems to be a fan of the series that will give it the love and passion that it deserves.

[@terrivel11]

This is an interesting angle to think about. Regardless I’ll stay hopeful. Nintendo and quality usually go together. I have been very impressed with video game movies coming out in recent years, and, despite being a prank, even that fake IGN trailer serves as a good proof of concept of what a truly live-action Zelda film could look like.

[@alexandersaksvoll5373]

This sounds really cool actually. I thought this movie sounded dorky a week ago, but now, now I am getting properly excited to hear more details on this!

[@THEONETRUEOVERLORD]

This would be cool and I think work WAY better than just real live action BUT Anime or just pain animation would be the best option in my opinion

[@gundamwarrior]

To be honest...it makes more sense in the end because Nintendo would not want to have a specific persons face they have to pay to be the face of zelda or link or ganon and have it tied to that person forever. Having nofaced mo cap artists who are in the credits make a lot more sense. Spend less to make back more.

[@andyrogers28708]

I think something like The Adventures of Tin Tin would work well I loved that movie and it did a good job of portraying the characters and world

[@michaelbell2492]

This video and the ideas it presents are the only things that have given me any bit of hope for the Zelda movie. It's well researched, well argued, and tempers its expectations. Thank you, Zeltik.

[@arkenn3497]

Thank you Zeltik, this is comforting to hear. Really. A mo-cap movie seems much more promising than a more traditional live-action one. Wes Ball seems so passionate about this project too ; it's really reassuring, especially if it's as good as what the Mouse guard short film looks then I'll be content. On the subject of Mouse guard, I remember reading one comic of it like ten years ago and being really shocked by the quality. It was in the middle of an already advanced story but I remember vividly a young mouse finding an old mouse in a cabin at the beach. They both ended up fighting crabs (who are giants for their size) and the old one, who used a chain and hook as a weapon, was eaten by the crabs. It shook teen me, so seing a Mouse Guard movie would really interest me

[@MisterOx]

I’m assuming it will be fully CG as that feels like the right way to blend link into our real reality because somebody looking like him would have to be quite young but at the same time that would be difficult to find somebody that age who looked like him, there is two likely outcomes to this movie either the legend of Chris Pratt, tears of the fans or the legend of movies, a breath of fresh air.

[@elmatador3154]

R.I.P. For everyone who cant see the movie because they left us too soon

[@oliverz6581]

Hopefully heaven exists and they can watch it from the clouds, which I hear are the best seats. 😇

[@perriwinkleiii5361]

If they took it in the visual direction of something like Tintin, I could definitely get behind it

[@lionmike247]

A fully mocapped Zelda would be amazing. I would prefer that over live action heavily and was hoping that was the case initially! This gives me hope.

[@a.jthomas6132]

My hope for this Legend of Zelda movie is Link x Zelda's relationship is well established as done in both Skyward Sword, Spirit Tracks and BOTW/TOTK. This beloved pair means alot to the Zelda fans as it does to me. And these iconic characters should be played by young actors since they’re teenagers. Their bond is much more than just your simple Knight and Princess dynamic. And it should not be professional like how Twilight Princess has done. Plus, they are the reincarnations of the Goddess Hylia and her first Chosen Hero.

[@SeabornNomad]

I'm all about it. zelda is underrated and not given enough attention. as a kid, it helped me learn many things i'd have otherwise have no interest in. it blew the top off the my sense of imagination and fun.

[@ZeranZeran]

Zelda is literally the highest rated game in history, multiple times.. These comments are a bit ridiculous.

[@paperluigi6132]

@@ZeranZeranand to this day, the original Ocarina of Time is the highest rated game on Metacritic at 99.

[@tumultuousv]

​@@ZeranZerannope. Still underrated in the scope of things.

[@Justnothankyou132]

"Underrated" Bro what are you smoking

[@crystalalumina]

Underrated? The series that has Ocarina of Time, considered the best game of all time and (imo please don't kill me) a little bit overrated?

[@DevinHoldeman]

Mo-cap would be the perfect way to do a realistic “live action” Zelda film. They would have full creative design for characters and sets. They could then easily incorporate the magical side of Hyrule. If this is the route they go with it then I will change my tune on it being live action

[@nesrovlahsurvivalist8399]

These tweets make me so much happier. I don't want the human characters to be mocap cgi but Zoras, Gordon's and others could do well. The fact that this man expressed interest in a Zelda movie in a time before botw makes me trust him a lot more.

[@KylerRamos]

I trust Wes Ball…as a long time spidey fan the name Avi Arads sends shivers down my spine lol. He has been attached to some great stuff but he is very well known for studio meddling and not having the best ideas. Interesting how Nintendo is financing 50/50 so they will have equal say over all on what gets to happen in the film. Going to be very interesting indeed, I imagine there are many concepts and test footage out there of what this movie could look like I’m sure what they saw with Sony and Wes had made them confident in going that route and announcing the movie this early.

[@Legendary_Honey]

This actually quiets some of my fears. Definitely a more exciting prospect than I'd originally thought.

[@MikeCheckBiloxi]

Knowing that the director is a fan of Zelda games is comforting

[@LydiaAlcyon]

real sidetalk though, i'm mega sad that Mouse Guard was cancelled by Disney once they bought out Fox. Instead, they are planning on doing a "live-action" remake (in the vein of The Lion King) of The Great Mouse Detective; my all-time favorite Disney film, and one that doesn't need a bloody live-action adaptation!! Sour grapes aside, from what I am seeing of Wes Ball's films (as I've never watched the Maze Runner series) it looks like he handles large, scenic environments quite well. That shows promise, for sure. Since he's also a fan of mocap, I think that shows a lot of promise as well. It's strange; I have been wondering who would play Link in a Zelda film for many years, but could never put my finger on any one particular actor. If they find someone with the right facial structure, they could easily mocap and CGI the face into one with the correct features.

[@bitter-bit]

I'm excited and terrified for this film

[@RileyJoy-np9jj]

I think that anyone who wants to make a movie about the Legend of Zelda should understand the legacy and story behind it. The Legend of Zelda is a game series I love and respect and that whoever is making it should feel the same way to. So excited for this live movie to come and you all have a great break.

[@HMMadsen]

It feels surreal to hear Zeltik talk about filmmaking

[@Link4000zCreations]

This is it. You figured it out. This is the best they can do and I think it'll work amazingly. CG and Mocap has come so far.

[@topaz_climber]

I love you Zeltik. You’ve just made me excited for this movie.

[@Grandpa_OW]

First time commenting on your videos: I'm in awe of the level of passion and quality you bring to all your work. The research involved, editing in the right footage...you're an amazing creator and thank you for making such passionate Zelda content. While others might default to generic reaction and speculation on this new movie, you've really added to conversations around the people involved in the project. Thank you!

[@rapzid3536]

They should have hired the Henson Company. Man, LoZ getting the Age of Resistance treatment would have been something else haha.

[@Z-Man7]

I remember writing a letter to Nintendo Power about letting the Henson company do a Zelda movie. 😮

[@p4rn2oo7]

I absolutely hope that they plan the story for a trilogy, that just works super well with a hero's journey type story and give us enough time to explore the world, its inhabitants and its history, enjoy wins agait and suffer loses to the enemy forces, and befriend special individuals that come together to defeat whatever evil is to be defeated at the end

[@jamesredline1352]

Also I can’t wait for this movie. I’m already excited. Good or bad I’m going to show it love. Because I love Zelda with all my heart.

[@maggienoel4581]

If Wes ball does take this route, I hope that motion capture will ONLY be used for certain characters such as the zora or rito, and NOT for human characters like link and zelda. I think that would be unnecessary

[@TP-pq9xx]

I feel like the Lord of the Rings did a poor job with their live action Elves although that was a long time ago now.

[@Grokipoq]

but then what about funky looking humans such as tingle? theyre humans, so need to be recognizable as the same race as link/zelda, but if tingle is cgi and link isnt thatd just be weird... funny looking humans are super important to the zelda franchise imo, and my reason of why this shouldnt be live-action (just look at how terrifying humans look in twilight princess)

[@benabernathy9272]

Ganondorf is 9' 7" tall. MoCap is a given for the demon thief

[@shintucky]

I already feel sorry for the kid who plays Link. Even if they do a good job, some terrible Zelda "fans" will direct a lot of hate toward them because real-life will never match their idealized version of the character in the games and in their heads.

[@InfaHex]

Man this has me hyped!

[@HingleDoofus]

i still find it very surprising they didn’t make it a gibli style movie, missed opportunity if you ask me

[@danwong2191]

Takes years especially if you are doing it actual ghibli

[@jmn327]

Ghibli style would be the dream, but I imagine the costs, time, etc. involved in getting that to work and appeal to the widest possible audience likely made them seek out this way, instead.

[@lordofuzkulak8308]

You’re assuming Studio Ghibli would be interested in doing it. Without Ghibli or another studio that’s on their level, there’s a risk that it’ll end up falling short of that ideal visually.

[@jmn327]

@@lordofuzkulak8308 Never said anything about whether Ghibli would be interested or not, just that their history and body of work is why a lot of fans see it as a studio well-suited to Zelda.

[@jskywalker58]

i don't want jump to any conclusions or anything but do you think a possibility for why there making it live action is because of the dumb mindset that animations is for kids and are not capable of telling mature stories.

[@darthpaul99]

What you’re describing is what they are doing with Star Wars right now with “The Volume,” which is a virtual set that they are using to help create some of the planets, cities, etc. for the various series that have been done lately. It’s that combined with traditional actors in costumes plus some cgi motion capture for some creatures.

[@XpertGuy99]

Honestly, ever since I was a little kid falling in love with the Zelda franchise I had always dreamed they would make it into a movie, series of movies or even a show. I really could not care less which way they presented Zelda, as long as they create something with as much care and attention to detail as they did with the Mario movie.

[@chromaticdreams618]

I feel what's most possible here is a blend between mo-cap and tradition live action- with the mo-cap used for Gorons and Zora and Rito and such. I like the idea, because I think it'll be way easier to retain their traditional looks.

[@DJ-0]

Man gorons are either gonna look really cool or really bad

[@anthonylamonica8301]

Well, I hope we're all fans of Twilight Princess's aesthetics, because that's likely what the mo-cap characters are going to look most similar to.

[@SnakeJuice]

The writers from Superman vs Batman, The Force Awakens and Jurassic World. I won't have my hopes up for this one

[@doofuscawt]

fr

[@katherynyoung9923]

I have a much better feeling now. I'm glad to know that Wes Ball is a Zelda fan

[@EchoCrispy]

I feel like the plot might be like the FNaF movie, it’ll take little bits of cannon from the series and blend them together making the film happen in its own universe as to not say “this event in windwaker happened like this, not like this” to make it fit the movie world

[@Relikord]

Keep up the good work! Love the vid zeltik!

[@squoozy_woozy9407]

Link must talk , I’m not translate all the “HYAAHS!” For my mum

[@grandwarriorwaluigi1284]

Yeah, it can be hard at times to properly translate at times.

[@aidanwilliams5435]

Something I hope happens story wise (but probably won’t), is that since most movie adaptations try to adapt a certain story only to end up rewriting it, they should make the Zelda movie have an original story and maybe even canon to the Zelda Timeline. A good amount of the games include origin stories of Link anyway.

[@tristanneal9552]

My hot take is that mocap Zelda is actually the dream (short of a Ghibli Zelda, which will likely never happen). Animation is great but this will be taken much more seriously and has wider audience appeal. Plus it being mocap wouldn't automatically rule out a SSBCU.

[@unironicallylikesranger7122]

Mocap isn’t the way to go I think. If it’s live action you go for practical effects, just look at one pieces Arlong and the fish man pirates. If Zora are going to look good in motion alongside the more human like species it’s got to be all one medium.