Sony and Netflix’s expanded global deal confirms the Zelda film’s post-theatrical streaming home
There has been some major news regarding the Legend of Zelda live-action movie.
Sony Pictures and Netflix are continuing—and significantly expanding—their partnership through a new global licensing agreement that will bring Sony’s theatrical films to Netflix worldwide after their full theatrical and home-entertainment windows. The deal has been widely reported to be valued at approximately $7 billion, though the exact financial terms have not been publicly confirmed by either company.
The rollout of Sony titles on Netflix will occur gradually as existing regional agreements expire, with Netflix expected to hold full global Pay-1 licensing rights to Sony Pictures films by early 2029.
Commenting on the expanded partnership, Lauren Smith, Vice President of Licensing and Programming Strategy at Netflix, said:
“Our members all over the world love movies, and giving them exclusive access to Sony’s much-loved films adds incredible value to their subscriptions. Sony’s impressive slate of iconic film franchises like Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and originals like Anyone But You have been popular with our U.S. audience, and now we’re excited to expand that offering to our members all around the world.”
Paul Littmann, Executive Vice President of Global Distribution at Sony Pictures Television, echoed that sentiment:
“Our partnership with Netflix has always been incredibly valuable. This new Pay-1 deal takes that partnership to the next level and reinforces the enduring appeal of our theatrical releases to Netflix’s global audience. It also underscores the strength of our independence and our ability to create meaningful opportunities that benefit creative stakeholders, consumers, and world-class partners.”
As part of this agreement, Netflix will become the eventual streaming home for several high-profile Sony releases—including the live-action The Legend of Zelda, which is currently scheduled to release theatrically on May 7, 2027. While the movie is releasing a year late, many consider The Legend of Zelda live-action movie to be part of The Legend of Zelda 40th anniversary celebration.
The Legend of Zelda live-action movie is co-produced by Nintendo and Sony and is currently filming in New Zealand. The film is directed by Wes Ball, with Shigeru Miyamoto involved in a producer role. The cast includes Bo Bragason as Zelda and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link.
While story details remain under wraps, the Legend of Zelda movie is said to aim for an epic fantasy tone, blending real-world locations with high-end CGI to bring a visually rich version of Hyrule to the big screen.
We’re cautiously optimistic about The Legend of Zelda Movie, but feel better knowing Miyamoto is heavily involved in a producer role. Are you looking forward to The Legend of Zelda’s theatrical representation of Hyrule?
About the Author
Scott (Scotty) Greenhalgh is the founder and owner of Input Lag, an independent Nintendo-focused publication. Scotty brings a player-first perspective informed by years of hands-on experience with Nintendo games to his reviews, rankings, and editorial coverage. His writing focuses on how games feel to play, their long-term value, and the impact Nintendo’s creative and business decisions have on players.
Outside of Input Lag, he also creates Pokémon-focused content online under the name Gr3atScotty.
