The Legend of Zelda boasts one of the most iconic villains in gaming history. Ganon, in all of his forms, stands near the top of any given list of video game bosses. He shifts to fit the tone of the games, bringing real menace to the lightest version of Hyrule. That level of iconography will likely be helpful to the franchise’s first feature film adaptation. Though Ganon will be a central draw, it might be prudent to be careful with the Demon King. Maybe a few other bosses can lay the groundwork.
There are only three critical characters in any version of The Legend of Zelda. Any good iteration of the story would have dozens of lovable side characters, but the central trio are the building blocks. In every iteration of Hyrule, there’s a hero, a princess, and a villain. The games are very slowly coming around to the idea that those roles don’t always have to be filled in the same way. That villain’s role is especially pliable, with a few interesting faces subbing in for a game or two.
Who is Ganondorf Dragmire?
Most fans know that Ganon and Ganondorf are different forms of the same being. A Link to the Past was the first title to reveal the pig wizard from the original game’s life as a man. Ganondorf was the leader of a band of thieves who worked to invade the Sacred Realm. Ganondorf killed his followers to claim the Sacred Realm’s treasure for himself. In taking the Triforce, Ganondorf became the boar-like demon fans know and hate. Ganon would later escape from the darkened Sacred Realm and wreak havoc upon Hyrule, only suffering defeat when Link’s campaign ends in victory. This basic idea came up again in Ocarina of Time. That classic title properly introduced the Gerudo, a race of warrior women who would birth only one male heir in 100 years. Ganondorf grew up under the careful guidance of witches and became a powerful warlock. This iteration of the character also stole the Triforce and plunged the Sacred Realm into darkness. Wind Waker and even Tears of the Kingdom added details to the character without ever breaking from the central idea.
Ganondorf has his own journey. He could carry a villain origin story in the model of one of those awful Sony Spider-Man Universe movies, except his would actually work. The character has depth that’s typically alien to Nintendo villains. That level of meaningful storytelling would be critical to a cinematic adaptation. Movies can’t generally rely on a villain that’s cool to look at or fun to fight. The lack of interactivity places the character in a strange spot. There’s a lot that could make Ganondorf interesting, but the obvious path is a sincere exploration of his story. The other main characters, Link and Zelda, don’t need a ton of background work. That could mean leaving Ganondorf around as a threatening figure who evolves into the primary antagonist, not unlike his early cutscene appearances in Ocarina of Time. Alternatively, there could be another presence around to share the Demon King’s tale through words and actions.
The Legend of Zelda Could Have Multiple Villains
Every Legend of Zelda game has some bosses that antagonize the player before they fight Ganon. A few entries have supposed final bosses that seem to serve as conclusions but eventually reveal Ganon. Twilight Princess introduced Zant, the supposed King of Shadows. Zant worshiped Ganondorf as a god, taking his guidance from the firey face of the Demon King. Link spends a lot of that game learning Ganondorf’s story, but he doesn’t properly meet the villain until the game’s end. Zant seems like a suitable threat until Link defeats him and Midna kills him. A similar pattern meets Ghirahim, the flamboyant villain of Skyward Sword. Ganon isn’t technically in that game, but Demise, the demon that would eventually reincarnate into the Demon King, is the final boss. Ghirahim is the living spirit of his sword, working tirelessly to resurrect the evil being. The Legend of Zelda movie could pit Link against a servant of Ganon before building up to the main event. With extreme confidence, they could even save Ganondorf for a larger headline. Ganon could be a regular foe, like he is in a lot of the games, but he could also be built up as the foe to end all foes.
Ganondorf is a big villain. He could be the equivalent of Sauron in The Lord of the Rings or Thanos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He needs an appropriate build-up to attain that level of power. The game developers know that everyone has seen Ganon already. That’s why they employ tactics like a second villain to sell the character. The Legend of Zelda movie has a lot of things to bring across and a limited window of time, but if the Demon King Ganon doesn’t work, the rest won’t either.
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