Summary
The casting of Link inThe Legend of Zeldamovie will be one of its most consequential decisions, having a heavy impact on its quality. SinceThe Legend of Zeldahas never had a proper film adaptation, only a few animated excursions, there is not a lot of precedent to work off of. When it comes to casting and characterizing Link, there are a lot of factors that will need to be taken into account, and Nintendo and the film crew will likely be aware of this. The end result could elevate the movie, or instantly damage it.
The announcement of theplanned live-actionLegend of Zeldamovie was a surprise, but recent events explain how it came to pass. The success ofThe Super Mario Bros. Moviecan be looked at as a possible reason for Nintendo to step into the world of film once more, especially with one of their most valuable properties. Considering how many games are in the series, many of which are remarkably influential, it’s hard to know what elements will ultimately be used to put together the story. While the version of Hyrule and the elements within are all important, the movie cannot succeed without an excellent Link.
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Link’s Casting is Extremely Important in The Legend of Zelda Film
Link Should Be Emotive Without Needing Words
There’s an argument forLink to be silent in theZeldamovie, because he has always been a silent hero in the games with the exception of the Phillips CD-i games. Even if he isn’t fully silent, it would be good to cast Link with an actor who can convey a lot of thoughts and emotions without speaking much. A lot can be shown through body language, facial expressions, and so on, as Link himself has shown throughout theLegend of Zeldaseries. To really embody the character, Link should be able to say a lot without speaking, and his actor should replicate that.
Link Should Retain His Identity and Authenticity
A significant danger of Link’s casting is that theLegend of Zeldamovie could change Link’s perceptionas a character. For this reason, the producers shouldn’t immediately leap to cast a major A-list actor in his role. If they do, there’s a risk that Link could end up falling into that actor’s usual niches and being just another one of their roles rather than his own unique character. For example, Deadshot inSuicide Squadwas criticized for this when that film first came out. Attaching a big name to Link for the sake of publicity wouldn’t do him justice in the long run.
Link Needs to Live Up to His Legendary Status
Link’s legendary status makes his portrayal vitally important for the movie. ThroughLink’s many reincarnations inThe Legend of Zelda, he has become one of the most famous and influential heroes in gaming, perhaps second only to Mario. With the upcomingLegend of Zeldamovie being his first film appearance, the right actor is vital in order to do proper justice to the character. An improper or poorly-acted portrayal would feel like an insult for the first appearance of Link on the big screen, and it would severely harm the chances of another film being made. A character of Link’s caliber needs an actor that’s up to the challenge.
For a series with so much history, it’s easy to see thatThe Legend of Zeldais agame series that deserves a movie. However, for the same reason, that film will need to be excellent, including its casting of Link.The Legend of Zeldahas largely been confined to the games and the comics based on them, so the film is a rare opportunity for the franchise, and one that shouldn’t be wasted. Alongside Zelda herself, Link’s casting inThe Legend of Zeldamovie will have a major role in whether it succeeds or fails.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
WHERE TO PLAY
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is the sequel to the beloved open-world adventure, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. This installment once again sees Link and Zelda battling to protect Hyrule from falling to Ganondorf. This new adventure takes place in the same land of Hyrule as Breath of the Wild but sees something called the Upheaval, which allows link to travel to Sky Islands, as well as deep into the Depths beneath Hyrule. Players can use special abilities to fuse together weapons, and build items to help them progress through the release.
