Nintendo announced plans of developing a live-action film based on its enduring franchise, “The Legend of Zelda.” This strategic move mirrors the success achieved earlier this year with the animated “Super Mario Bros” movie, accentuating the growing allure of video game adaptations and further fueling interest in their aging Switch console.
Following this announcement, Nintendo’s shares surged by 6% in response to their report of selling 6.84 million Switch units during the initial half of the fiscal year. Hardware updates and game titles featuring the company’s beloved character lineup boosted these sales.
“Super Mario” creator Shigeru Miyamoto and Avi Arad, a seasoned producer renowned for movies such as “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” will oversee the development of the upcoming “Zelda” film.” Nintendo revealed through social media posts that despite their long-term efforts in adapting the “Zelda” franchise, the film is expected to take considerable time.
Notably, the Nintendo ” Zelda ” movie will receive co-financing from both Nintendo and Sony. Hardware updates and game titles featuring the company’s beloved character lineup boosted these sales.
Although gaming represents Nintendo’s primary source of profits, the company witnessed a significant surge in sales in its mobile and intellectual property-related sectors, more than doubling to 55 billion yen ($365.86 million) in the first half of the current fiscal year.
This decision to delve into the development of a “Zelda” movie aligns with the current trend of a heightened global appetite for Japanese franchise adaptations. One such example includes Netflix‘s recent release of a series adaptation of the enduring pirate manga, “One Piece.”
