A live-action TV show based upon The Legend of Zelda isn’t coming to Netflix, as had previously been rumored.
It had previously been reported by the Wall Street Journal that the hugely popular video game series would soon make its transition to television, with Nintendo and Netflix working hand-in-hand on an adaptation that would be like “Game of Thrones for a family audience.” The concept certainly sounded intriguing and, depending upon how cynical you are, more than a little concerning, but after neither Nintendo nor Netflix made an official statement in regards to the rumor, it was mostly forgotten about.
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Now Nintendo President and CEO Satoru Iwata has revealed that the live-action show will definitely not be happening. In an interview with TIME, Iwata said: “As of now, I have nothing new to share with you in regard to the use of our IPs for any TV shows or films, but I can at least confirm that the article in question is not based on correct information.” So there you have it: no kid-friendly Game of Thrones starring a young hero in a green tunic and tights will be on its way to the streaming platform.
The rumor was very suspect in the first place given how protective Nintendo is of its IPs, and although I would’ve certainly gave a live-action Zelda TV show a shot, it’s difficult to imagine it being anything other than disappointing given gaming’s torrid history with trying to successfully branch out to other entertainment mediums. Also, how would the show’s creators have worked around having a protagonist that never utters a word?
Looks like The Legend of Zelda fans only have the upcoming Wii U game to keep them satisfied in the near future, then. I’m sure they’ll cope.
