'The Legend of Zelda' - movie.

To all that read this.

I had totally forgotten about this thread.
I created this thread in 2007, and I rather wish I hadn't.
I wouldn't mind so much if this thread was locked.

For those of you that don't know what this thread was about,
it was really me announcing that I hope to make Zelda into a motion picture
in the far future, when I had enough leverage to make it.

I've come a long way since then, and I believe my thoughts then were
narrow and naive. Though I do not deny now, that still wish to make it one day,
I just should keep it under wraps. I am not going to be attending LA like I said in my first edit.

I have however been slowly but surely writing the trilogy.
This is defiantly a franchise I don't want to destroy, considering its my favorite.
This is something I'm not quite private about, but if you'd like me to share my idea with you, you can PM me.

I'd also like to apologize to anyone I seemed hostile to in this post.
Anything I may of previously said, as probably been changed, in terms of my views.

For those wishing to know my current status as a film maker, well -

I've just finished Film , Art and Drama studies.
I've been an extra in 4 motion pictures, including the upcoming 'City of Ember'
I've been film-making since before I was 11.
Over the past years, I've been adding to my list of useful contacts in the industry.
I've got a few current projects that I'm going to be putting together as a part of my showreel.
After that I'll be getting investors for a feature length motion picture I've been writing.

If you wish to see any of my videos at the moment, PM me please.

Thanks for reading =]

Only thing i can think of is not to cast a girl as Link like in peter pan, lol

I don't think that would go down to well with pretty much everyone.

You're in Film School now, or you want to go? I hate to break it to you, but it'll take awhile before you can take on a full-length Zelda movie. They just don't give multi-million dollar deal's to Film School graduates. But, good luck anyway.

...
I really would like to see very complex characters:
such as a character that is very naive who is on zelda's side, is swayed into working for ganon, and in a very cliche moment, makes a very uncliche choice, the moment is where he has to do something really bad to zelda or link, and has a personality crisis, but makes the wrong choice.
I would also like to see some symbolism in the movie, movies lacking symbolism are not very awe-ing(sp?)
those are my thoughts.

Hey, sounds good! Johnny K. is right, but if you ever got the chance it would be good to know what fans want. The biggest problem I envision is Nintendo allowing it.

The real secret is to keep the Zelda feeling. Big, majestic landscape, quirky characters (not as quirky as Tingle, though,) monsters, magic, the usual. Assuming Link is in it, you have to be careful. Seeing a guy in a skirt is a bit... creepy. Make it a bit lower and straighter or something, like what you might see in Lord of the Rings but green. I can't say I know anything about movie making though, so this may not be worth anything.

Originally Posted by Johnny K.

You're in Film School now, or you want to go? I hate to break it to you, but it'll take awhile before you can take on a full-length Zelda movie. They just don't give multi-million dollar deal's to Film School graduates. But, good luck anyway.

Haha! Don't worry, I'm aware of that. I know i'll have to work my way up there to get even anywhere remotely to such a film, but have faith

Originally Posted by lordandyofx

Hey, sounds good! Johnny K. is right, but if you ever got the chance it would be good to know what fans want. The biggest problem I envision is Nintendo allowing it.

The real secret is to keep the Zelda feeling. Big, majestic landscape, quirky characters (not as quirky as Tingle, though,) monsters, magic, the usual. Assuming Link is in it, you have to be careful. Seeing a guy in a skirt is a bit... creepy. Make it a bit lower and straighter or something, like what you might see in Lord of the Rings but green. I can't say I know anything about movie making though, so this may not be worth anything.

Nintendo are prepared to bring their titles to the big screen, most defiantly, it's just finding a director with such a enthusiasm for such a project, After all, it's their franchise. Though any nintendo film project has been said that it will be produced by nintendo, so they'd defiantly keep an eye on how their games are adapting.

I would try to pull away from lord of the rings as much as i can.
I aim to have a sort of Indiana jones pace to the film - action, adventure, and comic scenarios. Though I do agree on what i assume your meaning by LOTR, by epic, and lengthy. It would achieve that too. a trilogy is in order, simply because the mythology in zelda is too much to contain in just one film!

One of the main tricks is fill in vital parts of the film that replace the aspects of dungeon to dungeon, yet through out the trilogy, realizing that all the themes , world, spieces have been portrayed into the plot.

IF you could hit the LOTR style epicness it would be golden.
Things to hit upon.
Link (this will be a hard one, as he doesn't talk, could he break his silence for a movie), Some things about link: - Left handed, man of little (or no) worlds, pointy eared, No parents (no link has ever had ingame parents that didnt die when he was a baby).
Zelda, Not just a blonde Princess who needs to be rescues, remember, zelda is always a key player, she has been the 7th and greatest sage, the Oracle of Hope, the 7th Maiden.
Hyrule, needs to feel epic, and big, and diverse, but not too big.
Triforce, need to make sure you don't script anything that could contradict zelda canon
Races i think need to be included.
Hylians
Humans (they are different)
Zoras
Gorons
Gerudo
Deku
Fairies
Sheikahs

I could go on for hours about things that need to be in, but im sure i dont need to.

Just tell me this. Where do you plan set the film, in the zelda timeline?

I'm afraid i don't agree with you on the 'next to no words' type of Link.
Link is the main character, the main character needs to appeal to the audience,
and this will be achieved on how he is portrayed through out the films.

My intention was to start Link as a cheeky, sarcastic and yet with a heart of gold.
Through the events of the films, he would mature, and become serious with in what has happened.

The mythology of zelda's backround is never perminant from game to game, thus there is no need to stick to her being a sage.

Remember, this would be set before any of the games, and has no relation to them. This allows for the story to be flexible, and surprising.

Hey, well good luck with your Film School thing!
A Zelda Film would sound really cool, but I don't think anyone could ever do it correctly with real actors. I think someone would have to make it digitally made. But you could try!

im not saying "make zelda a sage", i was saying "DONT make zelda a blonde princess who gets kidnapped and is stuck up a tower going "SAVE ME LINK, SAVE ME" alla princess peach"
Setting it before any game is probably the safest bet, and the smartest.
And i think i do agree with Link talking in a film, just be careful with this one, Link talking isnt usually dealt with well, "I'm so hungry, i could eat an Octorock" and "Well Excuuuuuse me princess" Come to mind. But im sure you could do a better job, + TP felt weird with Midna confronting Ganon and link standing by.

Originally Posted by Ti-Link

Hey, well good luck with your Film School thing!
A Zelda Film would sound really cool, but I don't think anyone could ever do it correctly with real actors. I think someone would have to make it digitally made. But you could try!

Doing it digitally removes far too much fun from a film! not to mention, it's less flexible, and more expensive. Imagine, no red carpet for the premiere! no behind the scenes footage/out-takes! A zelda film CAN be done with actors, keeping in mind it has to fit the character. eg - not brad bitt, or orlando bloom.

I'd not use main stream actors anyway.

Originally Posted by Hyrules-Hero

im not saying "make zelda a sage", i was saying "DONT make zelda a blonde princess who gets kidnapped and is stuck up a tower going "SAVE ME LINK, SAVE ME" alla princess peach"
Setting it before any game is probably the safest bet, and the smartest.
And i think i do agree with Link talking in a film, just be careful with this one, Link talking isnt usually dealt with well, "I'm so hungry, i could eat an Octorock" and "Well Excuuuuuse me princess" Come to mind. But im sure you could do a better job, + TP felt weird with Midna confronting Ganon and link standing by.

Well of course not the 'stuck in tower' idea, but eventually, it's going to lead to that on a bigger scale. Ocarina of time was the same scenario, she was in need of saving wasn't she?

My advice is to read the OoT manga books. His innocent yet boyish character is played well. Your going to hate me, but i DO like Link's over confidence in th e cartoons. I don't mean to portray it like that was, but he does know that he's above some enemies, and isn't afraid to show it. spider-man is the same, and it works.

The films would show and include -
Links destiny as a hero (as much as he denies it)
Ganondorf's rise to the throne.
Zelda's tollerance of Link (an example would be han solo, princess leia.)
How Link's acts of heroism affects Hyrule,
and how it benefits him against Ganondorf in the end.

I don't want to give away too much, but i do have a lot already thought out.

Well, end of the day, its your project, however treat it in a way were you will not annoy too much of the zelda community, granted you will always annoy some.
Dont cross canon. And you will be fine.
Films that cross the games canon always tend to be frowned upon by the games community.
Best of luck with this then.
And i think i speak for most of us, when i say, the Zelda comunity will be happy to help you hit that true zelda feel in the film.

But, you've got to think of Nintendo. Knowing them, they wouldn't just hand out the rights to the name for an amature. If somebody big like Stephen Speilburg or George Lucas asked, they wouldn't hesitate with a "yes".

Cartoon Link personality?
Sweet.
Seriously, I like the idea of seeing him grow. Much different from how he's normally personified in fan fiction.

I honestly think that if you are ever to make this film, then you need to focus more on appealing to a wider audience than just the Zelda players, unless you have money like Square Enix and can afford to make a fan service film like Advent Children.
And honestly, it's impossible to please the Zelda community (as has been said), especially when opinions change so fast- anyone remember the backlash at the name "Twilight Princess?" Or the graphics of The Wind Waker?

Overall, I like the ideas you have so far, so good luck in the future.

And don't double-post. Just use the Edit button.

Well if you attempt this I will support you 100& of the way. Only thing I ask is that you don't overlook canon. So if there are any parts with canon, try and make sure you dont completly go against it.

Lucky for you, the characters of the Zelda series are flexible. I mean Link goes from, outcast in OoT to a town role model in TP. Their home life is so drasticly different its insane.

But anyways, good luck with your film.

Hey super-fergus

I think it's great that you have the courage to do this.

Your ideas so far seem alright to me. Personally, I would not like to see Link in love with anyone. That would be such an off-putting cheesy cliché that I wouldn't even consider watching the film. I always liked the idea of Link as someone whose sense of duty to the world of Hyrule would keep him from forming soppy relationships. It has to be possible to do it differently. Not to mention, on top of that, if you did make him a romantic God forbid, sex scenes... ... would be the most repulsive, Hollywood-over-used, stereotyped, boring cliché of all. There isn't a movie these days WITHOUT it and it has become a pain in the ass! So please, be innovative!

That's all I have to say so far, super-fergus.

Off-topic: By the way, I see you're from Norn Iron? I visited your country a couple of weeks ago there. It's very beautiful and the people are so lovely.

Originally Posted by Smeezette

But, you've got to think of Nintendo. Knowing them, they wouldn't just hand out the rights to the name for an amature. If somebody big like Stephen Speilburg or George Lucas asked, they wouldn't hesitate with a "yes".

Of course they won't! Trust me, i hope you don't think I'm going to rush out with nothing to make this?

I've been through this before, i can write it now, but i won't come close to making it until I have done successful enough for producers to trust me.

Nintendo are actually very willing to bring their games on to the silver screen now. Metroid Prime had it's wrights bought, but eventually the project was given up.

Amateur isn't the word though. If you can direct,and handle money, it shouldn't matter. It's just a matter of who beats me to it first! It takes a long time to build a successful streak of films.

Originally Posted by Janus

I honestly think that if you are ever to make this film, then you need to focus more on appealing to a wider audience than just the Zelda players, unless you have money like Square Enix and can afford to make a fan service film like Advent Children.
And honestly, it's impossible to please the Zelda community (as has been said), especially when opinions change so fast- anyone remember the backlash at the name "Twilight Princess?" Or the graphics of The Wind Waker?

Overall, I like the ideas you have so far, so good luck in the future.

Of course! You can't market a film just to Zelda players, but to everyone! Producers don't care too much about the story, at the end of the day, they just want to make money. this comes as a balance of how much they will spend in terms on how well they think it will do. If i won't appeal to a mass audience, they won't make it.

Advent Children was primarily focused on the fan based audience.
Not many people who hadn't played the games would of appealed to it,
Plus it was CGI and produced in the east. therefore sales wouldn't of done terribly good anyway with distribution and such.

The views expressed here vary from dogmatic to very liberal ones.
Some think it should strictly be CGI, Link shouldn't talk, etc. These type of answers over look the outcome of the film badly.

People are attracted to live action films. either way, it's more on the story and visuals than anything else. Thanks for your insight!

Originally Posted by Mrs Ganondorf

Hey super-fergus

I think it's great that you have the courage to do this.

Your ideas so far seem alright to me. Personally, I would not like to see Link in love with anyone. That would be such an off-putting cheesy cliché that I wouldn't even consider watching the film. I always liked the idea of Link as someone whose sense of duty to the world of Hyrule would keep him from forming soppy relationships. It has to be possible to do it differently. Not to mention, on top of that, if you did make him a romantic God forbid, sex scenes... ... would be the most repulsive, Hollywood-over-used, stereotyped, boring cliché of all. There isn't a movie these days WITHOUT it and it has become a pain in the ass! So please, be innovative!

That's all I have to say so far, super-fergus.

Off-topic: By the way, I see you're from Norn Iron? I visited your country a couple of weeks ago there. It's very beautiful and the people are so lovely.

Thank you very much Mrs.Ganondorf!
I always considered Link was far too much of a tomboy to worry about girls,
He just wants to live a life of adventure!! Never has Link 'fallen in love' with zelda in the games, and nor is it intended.

Even if Zelda was throwing herself to Link, He'd rather be climbing trees, fighting moblins and exploring than get involved with "a smelly girly girl" Haha.

Try to imagine the zelda movie as:
The Goonies
Spider-man
Willow
Starwars

all rolled into one Medieval/fantasy adventure!!
For any of you that haven't seen willow i suggest you watch it!

Haha, ah yes! 'Norn Iron' is a nice place, but i don't see my career towering here. It is a great place to grow up though

My thought about the whole "Link wouldn't be interested in girls- he just wants to fight!" argument is-

How many WWII vets came back home and said (some to their wives), "I have no time for love. I want to get back out there and pop some more Krauts!"?

But then, that's more varied opinion in the Zelda community. But if you wanted it to appeal more to a general audience (especially females), you would need some sort of romance in there (just avoid sex. I agree with Mrs. Ganondorf on that one).

Originally Posted by Janus

My thought about the whole "Link wouldn't be interested in girls- he just wants to fight!" argument is-

How many WWII vets came back home and said (some to their wives), "I have no time for love. I want to get back out there and pop some more Krauts!"?

But the thing is, it isn't WWII, nor anything like it.
As i've stated before, through out his experiences, he becomes more serious.
He likes being a boy , and what boy would want to go off fighting monsters and such? It's when it affects him, people die and things become more serious than just 'fighting Moblins' and such, he becomes more serious.

His mind is young, and what I'm trying to say is for him, he's not interested in girls yet and wants to live the adventure. weather it's fighting monsters, or galloping through hyrule, He welcomes it, Especially from the stories he hears and being confined in his village to live in safety.

I know what you mean by the 'WWII' concept, but it's not like that at all.
It will narrow down like that for the bigger issues, but keep in mind links character.

The love issue will transform from their differences between a scoundrel of a farm boy and of a royal well mannered princess. But despite how much zelda finds Link's attitude unappealing, she learns that this 'scoundrel' is capable of many things. Of course, Link doesn't care, his skills to him are for granted.

Saving zelda starts off of something Link has to do, because of morality, even though he finds her quite pretentious, to Link wanting to, as their indifferences settle over their time together.

It'll probably be left for the audience to decide weather there was a love issue in there at all. The pair are far too stubborn to admit anything!