Daily Debate: What Fantasy Films or Series Should the Team Behind the Upcoming Zelda Movie Draw Influence From or Look to for Inspiration?
Posted on April 14 2025 by Sean Gadus
One of the first announcement Nintendo made on their new app Nintendo Today! was that the live-action Zelda film is scheduled to be released on March 26th, 2027. This announcement means that the current release date for the Zelda film is less than two years away. While release dates are subject to change, this is significant because it means that the preproduction process is moving forward; there is the possibility that fans might hear about casting in the next few months. As we eagerly wait for the Zelda film to release, I have been thinking about other fantasy films and series that could influence the direction or style of the upcoming Zelda movie.
With this in mind, what fantasy films or series should the team behind the upcoming Zelda movie draw influence from or look to for inspiration?
It is important to note that director Wes Ball has already discussed one key inspiration for the upcoming Zelda film: Hayao Miyazaki. Hayao Miyazaki is the trailblazing co-founder of Studio Ghibli, and one of the most beloved animated filmmakers in history. Ball has previously stated in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that he wishes to infuse the Zelda film project with the “wonder and whimsy” of a live-action Miyazaki film. The famous director’s attention to detail and beautifully developed worlds are two elements that I hope to see emulated in the upcoming live-action Zelda film.
When discussing the influence of a film or film series on a project in development, the influence could be in art direction, tone, character design, and much more. In terms of story and tone, I would be excited if the Zelda film took inspiration from the 1987 film The Princess Bride (as well as the excellent 1973 William Goldman novel it is adapted from). While not without its serious moments, The Princess Bride is known for its humor, romance, and swashbuckling action. If Nintendo wants to create a film that could scale for adult, teen, and child enjoyment, The Princess Bride could be a great film to take inspiration from. The Zelda film could lean on the cast of characters around Link to provide humor, and the film could still have some serious or scary moments as Link and Zelda confront obstacles or monsters. Hyper serious fantasy films are very difficult to execute well (and often unwatchable when bungled), but leaning into some camp and humor could give the Zelda film a long life beyond its initial release.
What do you think? What fantasy films or series should the team behind the upcoming Zelda movie draw influence from or look to for inspiration? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Sean Gadus is a Senior Editor at Zelda Dungeon. His first Zelda game was Ocarina of Time, and he loves all of the 3D Zelda games from 1998-2011. He is currently playing Witcher 3: Wild Hunt for the first time (what an amazing game!). He wants to help build a kinder, more compassionate world. You can check out his other written work at The-Artifice.com.
