We are a couple of years away from The Legend of Zelda Movie debuting in theaters, but of course, the internet isn’t going to wait to begin playing armchair director. We don’t know the casting choices yet, but a major point of discussion revolves around the possibility of Link having a voice in the movie. I believe that Link will, and should, talk in the new movie because the nature of telling a story through film is inherently different from video games. I can acknowledge the section of the gaming audience that wants the film to be as authentic to the games as possible, but for the best possible adaptation, we need to hear Link express himself.
This wouldn’t be the first time he has talked
When I finally got around to asking why he’s so quiet all the time, I could tell it was difficult for him to say. But he did. With so much at stake, and so many eyes upon him, he feels it necessary to stay strong and to silently bear any burden. A feeling I know all too well… For him, it has caused him to stop outwardly expressing his thoughts and feelings. – Zelda’s Diary in Breath of the Wild
Every time I’ve seen someone discuss the form of Link’s communication in the upcoming Zelda Movie, they seem to think that Link has always been mute in the games — the most extreme example of a silent protagonist. That’s just not true. Even without including the CD-I games, you can find various times that Link canonically talks in Nintendo-made Zelda games, and I’m not talking about his usual battle cries, grunts, and sighs.
Zelda’s diary in Breath of the Wild clearly shows that that iteration of Link feels he needs to remain calm and quiet to convey his hero status. He talks to her; we just don’t see it ourselves. Twilight Princess also includes the Hero of Time Link after he has met his fate in a stalfos form, and he talks in complete sentences. Wind Waker, Ocarina of Time, Link’s Awakening, and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link also include instances where Link has either outright spoken, or it is implied that he is talking.
You can also argue any moment that you have to answer an NPC between multiple choices is Link talking as well. He is a quiet person, but Link is not mute. He chooses to be stoic because he’s strong. He’s the calm and collected mind that will drive evil away. Hylians can have confidence that nothing will phase him as he takes on any challenge. He can look darkness in the face and not flinch. He isn’t quiet just for the sake of not talking. You can convey that in serious situations while still letting him express his thoughts to the audience when not in battle.
Words hold power
It is important to establish that Link can and has spoken not just to set precedence, but to emphasize that Link’s quietness is not his defining character trait. Above all else, he is a hero. In the video games, he is mostly a silent protagonist to let the player feel like they are Link. You are the ones on the journey, completing puzzles, and saving the world. In a movie, we have no say in what actions he will be taking. He must transform from an avatar into his own character. For that reason, let him be himself. Viewers aren’t afforded that same inherent connection to the video game version of Link as the one we will see on screen. We are no longer inside Link’s head, so the film needs to use other methods to get us there.
Obviously, an easy comparison to make here is The Super Mario Bros. Movie. If that movie only had Mario and Luigi saying “Wahoo!”, “Mama mia!” or nothing at all the entire time, it would seriously cut down on the impact those two had in that cinematic world. However, Link is obviously different from Mario, so you can let him talk less, but still let him express himself.
There is a right way that Link should talk
Even though I am completely in favor of Link talking in The Legend of Zelda Movie, that doesn’t mean I want a repeat of the often cringey things he would say in the CD-I games and the short-lived 1989 cartoon. There is a right way to give him justice in regard to all of the great games we have experienced over the years. Let him be strong. If he has a companion on the journey, let him grow as a character and open up to them as they go along. There can be lighthearted moments, but the absolute last thing I want to see as a Zelda fan is Link making any reference to the awful “Well, excuse me, princess” line or him trying to get a kiss from the princess.
The idea of Link speaking in The Legend of Zelda Movie is by no means a death sentence and is in fact necessary for it to succeed. I don’t want a character who just awkwardly stares at people as they talk to him. Additionally, I don’t want an 80s cartoon stereotype. Link should talk in this film to properly translate the quiet heroism we have all felt while playing the games, provided it is done with a level of respect. Movies have their own strengths and weaknesses compared to video games, so we should embrace those changes if we want the best possible adaptation for Link and Zelda. Conveying that there is a purpose behind Link’s actions is essential to drive him further as a character and less of an avatar.
