Netflix and Nintendo are making a Zelda TV show

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that this might actually happen.

The video streaming service is in the early stages of developing a live action series based on “Zelda,” about an ordinary boy named Link who must rescue a princess named Zelda and save a fantasy world called Hyrule, said a person familiar with the matter. As it seeks writers to work on the show, Netflix is describing it as “Game of Thrones” for a family audience, this person said.

Article here.

All we can really hope is that it will end up as good as Nintendo's previous attempts at doing Zelda in live-action.

What the eff?

I hope Link's voice sounds like the classic Link we all know and love:

Got yer show's theme song right here...

Just what is Ganon up to!?

Netflix gettin' weird.

Wow, I didn't expect this. Netflix has had some solid original programming, if this is done well with respect to the franchise and its fans I will check it out.

very excited for this casting

I know they're comparing it to Game of Thrones since that's the most popular fantasy show right now, but skewing it for a family audience makes me think that Merlin might be better comparison (...I say that having only ever seen two episodes of Merlin).

This sounds like a terrible idea, but what do I know?

Eh. I'll watch it.

a "Game of Thrones" for a family audience?

so... no rape, murder, and incest?

no thank you.

We'll see. Nintendo's pretty skittish about this kind of thing after the Super Mario movie and other embarrassing fare. I wouldn't be surprised if they back out of it. But this sounds pretty credible so let's hope it happens. And doesn't suck.

Wait... Link invented the rocket jump?

Oh man, so it took like two decades, but after the travesty that was the Super Mario Brothers movie, Nintendo is willing to entrust someone outside of Nintendo with making a film/TV adaptation of one of their flagship series?

This gon' be good.

I still think it's really hard to ascribe any personality to Link that feels natural. The one in the Zelda cartoons (and the Link in the CDi games) feel like a reflection more of the goofball main character that a lot of cartoons had at the time (and I guess still do) and wasn't at all what you'd expect of Link. But Link also isn't goddamn Aragorn or something, so I honestly don't know how you characterize him.

Game of Thrones? Really?

A down and dirty "real" looking shows is absolutely the wrong way to go about it. Legend of Zelda is bottled nostalgia. It needs to have bright, vivid colours and imaginative, elaborate set design. Also big pointy ears and glassy round eyes. It needs to be a moving painting; a fairy tale. That's the only way it'd ever work in my opinion.

@bisonhero: Probably the sort of angsty every-man you see in 90% of serialized cable dramas.

I'll put this here as well I guess.

Just like Peter Pan, they need to get a girl to play as Link.

@penguindust: I'm always absolutely astounded by her talent whenever I see a video of her.

@jolt92: Yeah, there are a few violinists out there which transcend the transitional format. She seems to have found a niche in geek culture or pop culture. There are a number of videos on YouTube featuring Lindsey playing as and performing video game music. I think it's great.

@penguindust: Well it's either that or sign a real prepubescent boy. Considering how quickly those grow it's not a great idea in the long term.

Nah, they will just make minor adaptations in order to make him appealing to american audiences to solve that.

I hope Link crushes the shit out of a dudes head.

Don't you mean what the elf?

I'm not really too happy about it. It could either damage or help the franchise or name. I feel like it'll be a flop and give Zelda a bad name like most shows tend to do with most beloved nostalgia.

The franchise is already damaged to an aspect.

my first reaction is Hercules series by Sam Rami's production company...... and I am saying that in a positive way.