Nintendo and Sony Pictures have announced plans to create a live-action film based on the popular video game series, The Legend of Zelda. Renowned video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto and Avi Arad of the Spider-Man trilogy will co-produce the film, with Wes Ball, known for The Maze Runner, directing. Although details about the cast and plot are yet to be revealed, Mr. Miyamoto has confirmed the film’s development, with Nintendo heavily involved in the production.

The Legend of Zelda is one of Nintendo’s most successful franchises, having sold approximately 150 million copies since its debut in 1986. The latest game in the series, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, sold 10 million copies in just three days, making it the fastest-selling Zelda game to date. Its predecessor, Breath of the Wild, is the best-selling game in the series, with an estimated 30 million copies sold overall.

The decision to create a live-action film comes at a time when gaming films are experiencing a resurgence. In the past, film adaptations of popular video games, such as Super Mario Bros and Mortal Kombat, were not well-received. However, recent successes like Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros Movie and films based on Sega’s Sonic the Hedgehog and Detective Pikachu have proven to be box office hits, likely motivating Nintendo to venture into film once again.

Avi Arad, a veteran producer with a successful track record in both film and video games, will lead the production of the Zelda film. This will mark the first attempt to bring the beloved franchise to the big screen, following an animated TV series in 1989. While there were rumors of a new Zelda series being developed by Netflix in 2015, nothing materialized. With the film in the works, fans can look forward to experiencing the beloved world of The Legend of Zelda in a new and exciting way.

Original news source: Legend of Zelda: Nintendo & Sony making live-action film (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Reporter Role-play
Instructions: Pair up students and assign them roles as news reporters covering the announcement of the new live-action film adaptation of The Legend of Zelda. One student acts as the anchor in the studio, while the other plays the field reporter who has just interviewed Shigeru Miyamoto and Avi Arad. They should prepare a brief news segment, incorporating key details from the article, and present it to the class.

– Opinion Spectrum
Instructions: Form a line in the classroom representing a spectrum from ‘strongly agree’ to ‘strongly disagree.’ Read out statements related to the article, such as “Video game adaptations to films are generally successful” or “The Legend of Zelda will make a better live-action film than an animated series.” Students should move to the position in the room that represents their opinion and discuss their reasoning with the nearest classmates.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down key vocabulary from the article on slips of paper, such as ‘franchise,’ ‘live-action,’ ‘co-produce,’ and ‘resurgence.’ Divide the class into two teams. Members take turns drawing the vocabulary words for their team to guess within a set time limit. The team with the most correct guesses wins.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Have the students work in small groups to discuss and write down their predictions about the upcoming film. They should consider aspects like potential casting choices, storyline adaptations, and the film’s reception. Each group can then present their predictions and provide reasons based on information from the article and their own knowledge.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into two groups. One group lists the potential advantages of turning The Legend of Zelda into a live-action film, while the other group lists possible disadvantages. Afterward, have a debate or a discussion to compare the points from both sides and determine which arguments are the strongest.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What video game series is the upcoming live-action film based on?
2. Who are the co-producers of the live-action film adaptation of The Legend of Zelda?
3. Who has been announced as the director for the film?
4. How many copies has The Legend of Zelda franchise sold since its debut?
5. What is the title of the latest game in The Legend of Zelda series, and how many copies did it sell in three days?
6. Which game is the best-selling in The Legend of Zelda series, and how many copies has it sold?
7. What is the history of the Zelda franchise’s previous adaptations outside of video games?
8. Who is Avi Arad and what role will he play in the production of the Zelda film?
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Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Nintendo and Sony Pictures have announced plans to (1)______ a live-action film based on the popular (2)______ game series, The Legend of Zelda. Renowned video game (3)______ Shigeru Miyamoto and Avi Arad of the Spider-Man trilogy will co-produce the film, with Wes Ball, known for The Maze Runner, directing. Although (4)______ about the cast and plot are yet to be revealed, Mr. Miyamoto has confirmed the film’s development, with Nintendo heavily involved in the production.

The Legend of (5)______ is one of Nintendo’s most successful (6)______, having sold approximately 150 million copies since its debut in 1986. The latest game in the series, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, sold 10 million copies in just three days, making it the fastest-selling Zelda game to date. Its (7)______, Breath of the Wild, is the best-selling game in the series, with an estimated 30 million copies sold overall.

The (8)______ to create a live-action film comes at a time when gaming films are experiencing a resurgence. In the past, film adaptations of popular video (9)______, such as Super Mario Bros and (10)______ Kombat, were not well-received. However, recent successes like (11)______’s Super Mario Bros Movie and films based on Sega’s Sonic the Hedgehog and Detective Pikachu have proven to be box office hits, likely motivating Nintendo to (12)______ into film once again.

Avi Arad, a veteran producer with a (13)______ track record in both film and video games, will lead the production of the Zelda film. This will mark the first (14)______ to bring the beloved franchise to the big screen, following an animated TV series in 1989. While there were rumors of a new Zelda series being developed by Netflix in 2015, nothing (15)______. With the film in the works, fans can look forward to experiencing the beloved world of The (16)______ of Zelda in a new and exciting way.
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Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is your favorite video game, and how would you feel if it were turned into a live-action film?
2. Do you think video game adaptations to movies generally succeed or fail, and why?
3. How would you feel if a film adaptation did not meet your expectations for your beloved video game?
4. What elements do you think are crucial for a successful transition from a video game to a movie?
5. Do you like the idea of video games being turned into movies, or do you prefer them to stay as separate forms of entertainment?
6. How important do you think the involvement of the original video game creators is in the production of a film adaptation?
7. What is your opinion on the trend of Hollywood adapting various forms of media, such as books, comics, and video games, into films?
8. If you were to direct a film based on a video game, which game would you choose and why?
9. Do you think the involvement of a renowned video game designer like Shigeru Miyamoto ensures the film’s success?
10. How do you feel about the choice of Wes Ball as the director for the upcoming Zelda movie, given his previous work on The Maze Runner?
11. Do you think the live-action adaptation of The Legend of Zelda will appeal to both fans of the game and those unfamiliar with the franchise?
12. What are your thoughts on the potential challenges of adapting a fantasy video game like The Legend of Zelda into live-action?
13. Do you think the success of recent video game movies like Sonic the Hedgehog and Detective Pikachu is a sign of changing times in cinema?
14. How would you feel about a favorite game of yours being adapted into a film if it meant changes to the story or characters to fit the movie format?
15. Do you think the financial success of a game, like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, is a good indicator that its film adaptation will also be successful? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. Nintendo
2. Zelda
3. Miyamoto
4. Spider-Man
5. Wes Ball
6. Breath of the Wild
7. Sonic
8. Detective Pikachu

Meanings:
(a) Co-producer of the Spider-Man trilogy
(b) Popular video game series
(c) Successful film based on Nintendo’s character
(d) Renowned video game designer
(e) Director of The Maze Runner
(f) Video game designer
(g) Successful film based on Sega’s character
(h) Co-producer of the Zelda film
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who is co-producing the live-action film based on The Legend of Zelda?
(a) Wes Ball and Nintendo
(b) Shigeru Miyamoto and Avi Arad
(c) Avi Arad and Wes Ball
(d) Shigeru Miyamoto and Wes Ball

2. What is the best-selling game in The Legend of Zelda series?
(a) The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
(b) The Legend of Zelda (1986)
(c) The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
(d) Breath of the Wild

3. What was the fastest-selling Zelda game to date?
(a) The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
(b) The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
(c) The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
(d) The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask

4. Who is directing the live-action film based on The Legend of Zelda?
(a) Shigeru Miyamoto
(b) Avi Arad
(c) Wes Ball
(d) Nintendo

5. What was the first attempt to bring The Legend of Zelda to the big screen?
(a) The upcoming live-action film
(b) An animated TV series in 1989
(c) A film adaptation in the 1990s
(d) A Netflix series in 2015

6. What motivated Nintendo to venture into film once again?
(a) A desire to expand their business
(b) The decline of the video game industry
(c) Recent successful gaming film adaptations
(d) Pressure from fans

7. How many copies did The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom sell in three days?
(a) 30 million
(b) 10 million
(c) 150 million
(d) 5 million

8. Who will lead the production of the Zelda film?
(a) Shigeru Miyamoto
(b) Wes Ball
(c) Nintendo
(d) Avi Arad

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the best-selling game in the series, with an estimated 30 million copies sold overall.
2. Nintendo and Sony Pictures are not collaborating to create a live-action film based on The Legend of Zelda video game series.
3. Avi Arad, known for his work on the Spider-Man trilogy, will lead the production of the Zelda film.
4. The latest game in The Legend of Zelda series, Tears of the Kingdom, sold 10 million copies in just three days.
5. The Legend of Zelda franchise has sold approximately 150 million copies since its debut in 1986.
6. The decision to create a live-action film comes at a time when gaming films are not experiencing a resurgence.
7. This will not be the first attempt to bring The Legend of Zelda franchise to the big screen, following an animated TV series in 1989.
8. Shigeru Miyamoto and Avi Arad will not co-produce the film, with Wes Ball set to direct.
Go to answers ⇩

Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. Who are the key figures involved in the production of the live-action film adaptation of The Legend of Zelda?
2. What is the significance of Shigeru Miyamoto’s involvement in the upcoming Zelda film?
3. How have past video game film adaptations influenced Nintendo’s decision to create a live-action Zelda movie?
4. Can you provide statistics on the sales performance of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and its impact on the franchise?
5. What previous attempts have been made to adapt The Legend of Zelda into a visual media format before the announcement of the live-action film?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What video game series is the upcoming live-action film based on?
The upcoming live-action film is based on the video game series, The Legend of Zelda.

2. Who are the co-producers of the live-action film adaptation of The Legend of Zelda?
The co-producers of the live-action film adaptation of The Legend of Zelda are Shigeru Miyamoto and Avi Arad.

3. Who has been announced as the director for the film?
Wes Ball has been announced as the director for the film.

4. How many copies has The Legend of Zelda franchise sold since its debut?
The Legend of Zelda franchise has sold approximately 150 million copies since its debut.

5. What is the title of the latest game in The Legend of Zelda series, and how many copies did it sell in three days?
The title of the latest game in The Legend of Zelda series is The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and it sold 10 million copies in just three days.

6. Which game is the best-selling in The Legend of Zelda series, and how many copies has it sold?
The best-selling game in The Legend of Zelda series is Breath of the Wild, with an estimated 30 million copies sold overall.

7. What is the history of the Zelda franchise’s previous adaptations outside of video games?
The history of the Zelda franchise’s previous adaptations outside of video games includes an animated TV series in 1989 and rumors of a new Zelda series being developed by Netflix in 2015, which never materialized.

8. Who is Avi Arad and what role will he play in the production of the Zelda film?
Avi Arad is a veteran producer with a successful track record in both film and video games, and he will lead the production of the Zelda film.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) create
(2) video
(3) designer
(4) details
(5) Zelda
(6) franchises
(7) predecessor
(8) decision
(9) games
(10) Mortal
(11) Nintendo
(12) venture
(13) successful
(14) attempt
(15) materialized
(16) Legend
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. Nintendo
Answer: (f) Video game designer

2. Zelda
Answer: (b) Popular video game series

3. Miyamoto
Answer: (d) Renowned video game designer

4. Spider-Man
Answer: (e) Director of The Maze Runner

5. Wes Ball
Answer: (g) Successful film based on Sega’s character

6. Breath of the Wild
Answer: (h) Co-producer of the Zelda film

7. Sonic
Answer: (c) Successful film based on Nintendo’s character

8. Detective Pikachu
Answer: (a) Co-producer of the Spider-Man trilogy
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who is co-producing the live-action film based on The Legend of Zelda?
Answer: (b) Shigeru Miyamoto and Avi Arad

2. What is the best-selling game in The Legend of Zelda series?
Answer: (d) Breath of the Wild

3. What was the fastest-selling Zelda game to date?
Answer: (a) The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

4. Who is directing the live-action film based on The Legend of Zelda?
Answer: (c) Wes Ball

5. What was the first attempt to bring The Legend of Zelda to the big screen?
Answer: (a) The upcoming live-action film

6. What motivated Nintendo to venture into film once again?
Answer: (c) Recent successful gaming film adaptations

7. How many copies did The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom sell in three days?
Answer: (b) 10 million

8. Who will lead the production of the Zelda film?
Answer: (d) Avi Arad
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the best-selling game in the series, with an estimated 30 million copies sold overall. (Answer: True)
2. Nintendo and Sony Pictures are not collaborating to create a live-action film based on The Legend of Zelda video game series. (Answer: False)
3. Avi Arad, known for his work on the Spider-Man trilogy, will lead the production of the Zelda film. (Answer: True)
4. The latest game in The Legend of Zelda series, Tears of the Kingdom, sold 10 million copies in just three days. (Answer: True)
5. The Legend of Zelda franchise has sold approximately 150 million copies since its debut in 1986. (Answer: True)
6. The decision to create a live-action film comes at a time when gaming films are not experiencing a resurgence. (Answer: False)
7. This will not be the first attempt to bring The Legend of Zelda franchise to the big screen, following an animated TV series in 1989. (Answer: False)
8. Shigeru Miyamoto and Avi Arad will not co-produce the film, with Wes Ball set to direct. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧