Nintendo to develop 'Zelda' movie

Nintendo said on Wednesday it will develop a live-action film of long running franchise "The Legend of Zelda" in the Kyoto-based firm's latest push beyond its core gaming business.

Nintendo scored a runaway success with its animated Super Mario Bros movie this year, which has underscored the box-office appeal of video game adaptations and helped drive demand for its aging Switch console.

The film will be produced by Super Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto and Avi Arad, the veteran producer of movies such as Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

The two men have been working on an adaptation of the Zelda franchise for many years but the movie will take time, according to posts on social media by Nintendo.

It will be co-financed by Nintendo and Sony,  which is also meeting success in adapting game franchises, and directed by Wes Ball, whose movies including the upcoming Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.

Nintendo said on Tuesday it had sold 19.5 million copies of the latest ​​​​​Zelda game at September-end as the series continues to deliver hits almost 40 years after its first installment.