Fans have been anticipating a good Legend of Zelda show for ages now, but aren't sure on how it should go. There has been loads of speculation about a possible Legend of Zelda Netflix series in the works. The presence of an IMDb page has got fans excited, along with rumors of Tom Holland being cast as Link.
Nintendo has turned a few of their most famous franchises into shows in the past, but efforts have been unsuccessful. The Legend of Zelda TV series that came out in 1989 has always been known to be atrociously bad among Zelda fans. Still, this hasn't stopped gamers hoping for some kind of TV adaptation. The answer to the question of how it should be handled however varies between each and every fan.
So why is there talk now? The Legend of Zelda franchise has maintained a strong fanbase for decades, and there have always been rumors about a TV series or movie being developed. When IGN posted a fake Legend of Zelda movie trailer back in 2008 as an April Fool's joke, it revealed how long fans have been begging for some kind of film or show to be made.
Why make a series? The Witcher and Castlevania are video games with cult followings, and have gotten their Hollywood makeovers in the form of Netflix shows. Despite fans being understandably skeptical, both shows have received generally positive reception and have more seasons in the works. Their success means that it would make sense for Nintendo to tap in with their own popular franchise.
What would the series be based on? It's possible they could simply recreate the events from a game like Ocarina of Time. However, there's also the possibility they could create their own original storyline that strays from the games. For instance, while the Castlevania TV series is based on Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, the creators have taken liberty with the games' elaborate plot elements to create their own story with original characters. Avid Zelda fans have already created their own successful original storylines based on the franchise, some of which include The Demon Road comic series by Stephan Hunter, and A Tale of Two Rulers by Tumblr user FigmentForms. Whatever the TV series will be based on, the story can't just be handed off to any writer; they would definitely need to be a Legend of Zelda fan in order to meet the high expectations of the fanbase.
Who would be the main character? The obvious answers: Link or Zelda, although the show could feature side characters from various games, with some fans asking for Midna of Twilight Princess, or Impa of Ocarina of Time. Since Link and Zelda are the main stars of the video games, fans would be happy to see favorite side characters get the spotlight in the show.
Would the series take on a darker role akin to The Witcher or Castlevania? Probably not, since the series has always been targeted towards younger audiences, unlike the other two more mature franchises. But considering the dark underlying themes in games like Majora's Mask, Twilight Princess, and even the most recent Breath of the Wild, it would be a shame to not bring those elements into a show to please older fans.
Would Tom Holland be the right fit for Link? Considering his most known role as a young, ambitious hero in the recent Spider-Man movies, it's possible. Many were skeptical of Henry Cavill being cast as Geralt in The Witcher, but he received generally positive reception on his performance upon the show's release. Fans might not know how well Holland will do until he dons that green cap. The bigger question is: will Link have to talk? It would be an interesting challenge to have a main protagonist be silent for most of the series. Although in Breath of the Wild, Zelda's diary confirmed that the quiet Link can speak. Regardless, a talking Link would at least show that the adaptation is trying to differentiate itself from the games and create its own unique interpretation of the Zelda universe.
Only time will tell how successful this TV series will become. It will have big shoes to fill in order to meet the high standards of fans, especially as The Legend of Zelda 35th anniversary approaches in 2021. Thankfully, Nintendo has Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity to keep fans occupied until they (hopefully) make any announcements about a show.