The Legend of ZeldaTV showis one of the most infamous and long-running, yetgenerally fruitless Nintendo rumors. According toan interview with Adam Conover from Adam Ruins Everything,Zeldawasn’t the only show in the works. College Humor was reportedly working with Nintendo on aStar FoxTV adaptation.
After the initial rumors and leaks from theZeldaTV show first emerged, Nintendo allegedly pulled out of all of their TV deals,Star Foxincluded.
According to Conover, Netflix had reportedly leaked the information themselves, prompting Nintendo’s sudden decision to end things with College Humor. He starts talking about the project around the 39-minute mark of the interview.
According to the interview between the Serf Times and Conover, the series was going to be in claymation, similar to Wes Anderson’sThe Fantastic Mr. Fox. Apparently, people Conover worked with were even in Direct contact with Shigeru Miyamoto and other higher-ups at Nintendo.
Netflix’s relationship with Nintendo was short-lived but the streaming giant has gone on to make multiple successful video game adaptations. Game franchises likeCastlevaniaandThe Witcherhave crossed over and become some of the most popular shows on Netflix.
Now, even more video game franchises, likeResident Evil,Cyberpunk 2077andCuphead, are getting the Netflix treatment.
Since Nintendo’s relationship with Netflix went south, there haven’t been many Nintendo-related game-to-film/TV adaptations. Outside of thePokemonTV shows and theDetective Pikachumovie, Nintendo hasn’t been attached to any released adaptations since the infamous and highly meme-ableDonkey Kong CountryTV series.
Right now, they’re working with Illumination, the studio behind theDespicable MeandMinionsmovies, on a newMariomovie. Nintendo and Illumination have been predictably hush-hush about the project aside from its September 2022 release date. Because the film industry has been so deeply impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it could easily get pushed back.
