Nintendo Shuts Down 'Lost in Hyrule' Zelda Fan Film Kickstarter Campaign

Nintendo Shuts Down 'Lost in Hyrule' Zelda Fan Film Kickstarter Campaign In early 2025, the highly anticipated fan-made film 'Lost in Hyrule', inspired by Nintendo's legendary franchise The Legend of Zelda, faced an abrupt cancellation.

The live-action fan project, spearheaded by director and lead actor Chris Carpenter, aimed to retell the "untold conclusion to the Hero of Time’s saga," picking up after the events of Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask.

Hosted on Kickstarter, the film quickly drew the attention and support of Zelda fans worldwide, with nearly $24,000 pledged towards a $30,000 goal before the campaign was unexpectedly halted by Nintendo. The crowd-funding initiative began with a promise to invest 100% of raised funds directly into production, hoping to deliver a heartfelt tribute to one of gaming's most cherished universes.

The team, including producer Dio Traverso and actress Avi Lake—best known for her work in A Series of Unfortunate Events—set their sights on a 2025 release.

Their transparent communication made clear that the project was unaffiliated with Nintendo or the officially announced live-action Zelda movie in development by Nintendo and Sony Pictures, and they even included a pledge to comply with the wishes of Nintendo, Sony, or Arad Productions should any legal concerns arise. With the campaign showing strong momentum—about a third of the target raised and a full month left before the February 21st funding deadline—the creators were prepared for possible intervention from Nintendo.

The Kickstarter FAQ openly acknowledged the risk, stating that as the intellectual property holder, Nintendo could halt production at any time.

This vigilance became a necessity when, just weeks into the campaign, Nintendo formally requested the project's termination, resulting in the removal of the campaign and all associated trailers.

Crucially, no funds were collected, and backers will not be charged or receive rewards. Producer Dio Traverso communicated the project's closure in an update to supporters, offering gratitude to all those who championed the vision.

"On behalf of Chris and myself, we appreciate everyone’s belief in this project.

Since the campaign is ending early, pledges won’t be collected, and unfortunately no rewards will be fulfilled," Traverso wrote, paraphrasing his public message. While fans mourn the project's premature end, the 'Lost in Hyrule' campaign reflects both the enduring appeal of The Legend of Zelda and the legal boundaries that fan creators face.

The cancellation coincides with ongoing anticipation for Nintendo and Sony Pictures’ official live-action Legend of Zelda adaptation, originally announced in November 2023.

As fans await more news on this major production, the 'Lost in Hyrule' story stands as a testament to the passion and creativity within the Zelda community—reminding all that while fan projects may be vulnerable to copyright enforcement, the love for Link’s adventures endures across platforms, from the Nintendo Switch to the silver screen.

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