Responsibility Explored by Wes Ball in Planet of the Apes and The Legend of Zelda
Zippin' Through Zelda with Wes Ball:
Director extraordinaire Wes Ball, renowned for his work on the "Maze Runner" series and "Planet of the Apes" saga, is climbing to new heights as the first gunner of a live-action "Legend of Zelda" film. This ain't just any old franchise remake, folks; it's Zelda, and Ball knows exactly what that means - and it means a freakin' lot! With high expectations nipping at his heels, he's confident his past triumphs have put him in the perfect place to tackle the task. "The Maze Runner movie was just testing waters," Ball told io9 last week. "Five million copies of books? Fans were ready to pounce if I flubbed it! Same goes for the Planet ape movies. Let's just say, I got a taste of what it's like to tango with a passionate fan base!"
Ball's heartwarming nostalgia for Zelda is palpable, as he reminisces about growing up dreaming about the game's fantastical world. "It's important to me, damn it!" he declares, promising to avoid any missteps in the upcoming project. "My goal is to create a cinematic masterpiece that does justice to this beloved franchise and doesn't leave fans hanging their heads in regret!"
While Ball couldn't reveal too much, a peek at his latest project provides a hint at his innovative approach. When the studio first approached him to helm a new "Planet of the Apes" flick, he flat-out refused. "[H]ow do you follow [Caesar's] legacy?" he mused. "There had been no reason to delve further into the saga. But then, inspiration struck! What if we featured an ape who knew zilch about Caesar, yet was about to discover his world in a mind-blowing twist? What if we portrayed Caesar's triumphs and ideology as ancient religious texts? That idea got me and the producers' juices flowing, and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes was born!"
Navigating the vast expanse of "Zelda's" storied history is undoubtedly a hefty task, but Ball is ready to embrace the challenge. "No, it wasn't one divine moment of brilliance that gave me the huevos to undertake this beast," he explains. "It was a long, winding journey, full of trial and error, learning and evolving. I've been dreaming about this for years!"
Be on the lookout for "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" on May 10, and keep your eyes peeled for more insights from Ball next week. As for the "Legend of Zelda"... well, no release date yet, but stay tuned!
Craving more io9 goodness? Get the lowdown on the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases[1], the state of the DC Universe on the big screen and small[2], and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who[3].
Insights:
- Driven by Passion: Ball has a deep-rooted fondness for "The Legend of Zelda," having grown up dreaming about the game's magical world. This connection to the franchise fuels his resolve to produce a faithful adaptation, avoiding the pitfalls that may disappoint fans.
- Inspired by Miyazaki: Ball has revealed an affinity for Hayao Miyazaki's fantastical storytelling style in Studio Ghibli classics like "Spirited Away" and "Princess Mononoke." He aims to transfer the whimsy and wonder of Miyazaki's work into the live-action "Zelda" film, offering a unique spin on the beloved game series.
- Motion Capture Possibilities: With speculation swirling around the filming process, it's rumored that Ball will employ motion capture technology for creature characters, and possibly main characters like Link and Zelda. This technique could help bring the mythical world of Hyrule to life on the big screen while staying faithful to the original games.
- Despite the daunting challenge, Wes Ball expresses excitement about tackling the live-action adaptation of 'The Legend of Zelda', drawing from his passion for the franchise, which was ignited by growing up with the game series.
- Emulating the whimsical storytelling of Hayao Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli films, such as 'Spirited Away' and 'Princess Mononoke', Wes Ball plans to infuse the live-action 'Zelda' film with a unique blend of fantasy and enchantment.
- Given the rumors surrounding the production process, it's speculated that Wes Ball may incorporate motion capture technology to bring the mythical world of Hyrule and potential characters like Link and Zelda to life on the big screen.
- With 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes' scheduled for release on May 10, fans can look forward to more innovations from Wes Ball in adapting beloved franchises, as they eagerly await updates on the 'Legend of Zelda' adaptation.
