Here’s some fun and absurd news to kickstart your Monday morning – Machine Gun Kelly has set his sights on a role that’s as iconic as it is elfin – Link from the Legend of Zelda. If you’re raising your eyebrows right now and thinking “Huh?”, we’re right there with you.
The Legend of Zelda universe, a place where magic is real, swords are named, and pots fear for their lives, could possibly get its savior in the form of Machine Gun Kelly. Last Halloween, Kelly and his fiancée, Megan Fox, gave us a sneak peek into what such a scenario would look like.
Dressed as Link and Zelda, the duo made their best impression of a world where Kelly wields the Master Sword and Fox is the bearer of the Triforce of Wisdom. His Instagram proclamation, “If I don’t play Link, we have a problem,” has now been taken as throwing down the gauntlet in a room full of casting directors.
Let’s face it, MGK, known for his rapping prowess and roles in Netflix projects like Bird Box and Project Power, diving into the mystical world of Hyrule is a bit like Link trying his hand at a rap battle – intriguing, but a tad out of left field.
No disrespect to the man’s talents, but stepping into the boots of one of gaming’s most beloved heroes is a high order, especially when you consider the notoriously tough crowd he’s trying to impress. Gamers, bless their passionate hearts, are not the easiest bunch to please.
Take HBO’s The Last of Us, for instance. Pedro Pascal, a man whose acting chops are as solid as they come, stepped into the role of Joel, and yet, some corners of the internet still buzzed with critiques that he didn’t quite capture the essence of the beloved character (though to be honest, these are simply online trolls).
If Pascal’s portrayal stirred the pot, imagine the uproar if MGK, whose acting resume lacks the authority to back up his great ambition, took on the role of Link, a character etched deeply into the hearts of millions.
The Zelda film, riding on the coattails of Universal’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie, has the potential to be either a nostalgic trip down Hyrule lane or a “what were they thinking?” moment, especially in the very rare case that MGK gets his dream fulfilled.
The recent success of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has only added fuel to the fire of anticipation for a film adaptation. The game’s release earlier this year has catapulted the franchise to new heights of popularity, making the prospect of a film adaptation even more tantalizing.
Interestingly, in the games, Link is famously silent, a trait that adds to his mystique but certainly can’t be carried on into the live-action adaptation – or can it? The last time Link spoke in an adaptation didn’t exactly go well.
Just like what Illumination did for Mario in the The Super Mario Bros. Movie, a film adaptation of Zelda will have to incorporate some form of speech for Link, especially given the fact that it’s not an animated project. Hopefully, the face behind it won’t be Machine Gun Kelly.
