One of the most well-known videogames ever created is currently in development to come to a television near you. The Wall Street Journal reports that Nintendo is currently negotiating with Netflix to bring a live-action version of The Legend of Zelda to life.
This is fascinating news on a few different levels. Nintendo is notoriously protective of their properties, so it is far from certain that the TV show will happen at this point. However, Netflix has been extremely aggressive as of late and already secured a long-term deal with Marvel Studios, another titan in the business. Most of the company’s hesitancy to bring their character’s to live-action, lies in the failure of 1993’s Super Mario Bros movie. Since that point, there has been little movement to adapt their games for film or television. The result is that Nintendo may be the largest single treasure chest of untapped intellectual property.
The Wall Street Journal described the type of show Netflix is angling to make:
“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.”
It should be noted that Netflix is aiming to make the show similar to Game of Thrones, but for families. They are quickly gaining a reputation for delivering high quality and the fact that they are looking to HBO for inspiration, who has been delivering cinematic television for years, is a positive sign.
Netflix is casting a wide umbrella of success. They have already created an award winning political drama in House of Cards and an award winning comedy-drama with Orange is the New Black. In April, they will begin trailblazing a new path for Marvel and comic book television in general, with Daredevil. They have been lining up their cards to only not be a force, but the new model for genre television.
The possibilities of a live-action The Legend of Zelda show are truly limitless. There are almost thirty years of material to draw from and a library of unforgetable creatures and mythology to bring to life. This is one to definitely be on the lookout for. We will be sure to bring you the latest as the negotiations continue.
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Source: The Wall Street Journal