Insider Clarifies Zelda Movie Rumor After Illumination CEO Denial, Universal To Produce

gameranx.com:

A few days after rumors surfaced of a The Legend of Zelda movie deal, Illumination Studios CEO Chris Meledandri has denied the rumor, prompting the original source to clarify the rumor further.

Speaking to TheWrap, who found an opportunity to raise the question at the Annecy International Animation Festival, Chris had this response:

“I don’t know where that came from. I mean I can understand how people would surmise all sorts of things because obviously, we’ve had a great experience working together.

My relationship with Nintendo now includes being on their board of directors, so I understand how people can surmise these things.

But in terms of the specifics, that was just something that I’ve been hearing lots of reports. This is just about what’s next between Nintendo and Illumination.”

TheWrap characterizes this response as a denial, but if you read it, Chris doesn’t expressly say, the movie doesn’t exist, or we didn’t sign a deal with Nintendo. Chris only says that he doesn’t know where the rumor came from.

We have traced the source of that rumor for you when it initially spread out. Hollywood insider Jeff Sneider put his reputation on the line when he revealed this rumor in a recent podcast.

Jeff said that Universal had finished penning a deal with Nintendo to tie down a potential The Legend of Zelda movie with them. Jeff also stated that this would be another Illumination Studios project.

Jeff was now compelled to respond to TheWrap story, and he has done so now, in the latest episode of John Rocha’s The Hot Mic.

To sum up Jeff’s comments, he is standing by his initial claim that Universal is finalizing this deal with Nintendo. He is clarifying, however, that his source did not say that Illumination Studios would be