Daily Debate: What NPC Would You Like in an Expanded Role in the Zelda Movie?
Posted on November 17 2023 by Josh Wittmershaus
There are still so many questions unanswered after a news break of Goronic proportions this Tuesday with the announcement of an upcoming Legend of Zelda live-action movie. Among these inquiries is not only who will fill the roles of the more popular and well-known characters like Link, Zelda, Ganondorf, and Impa, but also what characters from the multi-generational franchise will make the cut and be included in the film. I’m not talking about some of the more prominent characters of present or past, but some of those deep dives into games old and new. Specifically, I’m talking about characters that had small roles that left us wanting to learn more about them.
That said, here’s my list of five characters I’d like to see get a larger role in the upcoming movie. (It should be noted that I limited this list to games that take place in Hyrule):
1. Mido (Ocarina of Time): I feel like Mido has a strong love/hate relationship with the fanbase, and he plays a small but integral role in Ocarina of Time, both when Link is a child and when he returns again as an adult. While I don’t think an expanded presence in a movie would shine much light on Mido’s past or personality, I could see him having a few dozen lines, should the movie be centered around the Ocarina storyline.
2. Yona (Tears of the Kingdom): I don’t think this is a huge surprise, as many questions have popped up surrounding Yona and her past. Her recency in the franchise might lend to favor her showing up in the film and playing a larger role, and maybe explaining some of the mysteries we currently speculate on.
3. Link’s Uncle (A Link to the Past): I just want backstory. I want to know what he knows. I want to know what he’s seen. I feel like there’s so much more that he could have told Link but didn’t have the chance to. The film would be a great opportunity to bring this character back and fill that gap.
4. Malon (Ocarina of Time): This farm girl would make a great character to play the “unlikely hero” with a key role in taking down whatever big, bad evil guy they decide to use in this film. She’s a fan favorite, has lots of canonical history, and showcases the childish innocence that’s pervasive in the franchise. Maybe in the film, a little bit of that innocence is lost, and we get to see a darker, more emotional side of Malon.
5. Malo (Twilight Princess): This is my dark horse candidate. You can’t deny Malo’s epic punchlines; my favorite is, “Time is money… quit wasting both.” There’s plenty of opportunity for comic relief in a Zelda movie, and Malo brings the sassiness to keep our hero in check.
What do you think of my list? What characters through the franchise would you want to see expanded on in the Legend of Zelda movie? Let us know in the comments!
Josh Wittmershaus is a writer at Zelda Dungeon. Originally from Erie, Pennsylvania, he now resides in Northern California. Aside from Zelda, Josh enjoys playing music, seeing live music, music history, and all other things music. He also enjoys skating, hockey, and the occasional political or philosophical thought exercise.
