Last month, a Kickstarter campaign launched by director and actor Chris Carpenter aimed to bring a Legend of Zelda fan film to fruition. Despite raising about $24,000, the campaign has been suspended after attracting the attention of Nintendo, halting all progress on the fan film.
According to a statement from producer Dio Traverso, the project has been officially terminated, and backers will not be charged. Traverso expressed gratitude to supporters on behalf of Carpenter and the team.
Carpenter was set to portray Link, with Avi Lake cast as Princess Zelda in the movie titled “Lost in Hyrule.” The narrative was intended to take place after the events of Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask, concluding that chapter of Link’s journey.
Nintendo is well-known for its protective stance on intellectual property, having recently pursued legal action against a supermarket in Costa Rica over the name “Super Mario.” It is likely the company would have challenged the “Lost in Hyrule” project regardless, but heightened media attention and visibility may have accelerated their decision.
In addition to this fan project, Nintendo is developing its own live-action Legend of Zelda film in collaboration with Sony Pictures. Director Wes Ball has been associated with this project since 2023, though there have been no significant updates since the announcement.
