Nintendo has revealed the first look at the upcoming live-action Legend of Zelda movie.
On the Nintendo Today app, images were released showing Bo Bragason as Princess Zelda and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link. The live-action adaptation is being directed by Wes Ball, who is known for The Maze Runner, and will be released in theaters on May 7, 2027.
The Legend of Zelda franchise began when Nintendo released the first game in 1986, and was created by Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It has grown to be a multi-billion-dollar franchise with 21 entries on Nintendo’s game consoles.
An animated TV series based on the games aired in 1989 and released 13 episodes showing Princess Zelda and Link trying to defend the fictional land of Hyrule from evil wizard Ganon. The franchise is one of Nintendo’s most successful, and some of its games, including The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, are considered the greatest video games of all time.
The casting of the upcoming live-action was revealed by the movie’s producer and Nintendo’s Creative Fellow and Representative Director, Shigeru Miyamoto, with the caption:
“I am pleased to announce that for the live-action film of ‘The Legend of Zelda,’ Zelda will be played by Bo Bragason-san, and Link by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth-san. I am very much looking forward to seeing both of them on the big screen.”
Bragason is an English actress known for her roles in Renegade Nell, Three Girls, and The Jetty, but the live-action Legend of Zelda movie will be her first major role. Ainsworth is also English, and he was the voice of Pinocchio in Robert Zemeckis’s live-action adaptation and appeared in Netflix’s The Haunting of Bly Manor as well as an episode of The Sandman.
Fans have been divided by the casting announcement, as many had already fancast the roles, including actress Hunter Schafer, known for Euphoria, as Princess Zelda. However, Bragason and Ainsworth’s ages may have played a significant role, as it’s clear that the direction Nintendo and Sony wanted to go in was for young protagonists.
Nintendo is continuing to bring adaptations of its most popular franchises to life. Following the success of The Super Mario Bros Movie, they have officially released the trailer for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which will be released on April 3, 2026.
Nintendo partnered with Sony for this animated adaptation, and the 2023 Mario movie had a star-studded cast and grossed over $1.3 billion at the global box office.
- Release Date
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May 7, 2027
- Director
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Wes Ball
- Writers
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Derek Connolly
- Producers
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Shigeru Miyamoto, Avi Arad
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Benjamin Evan Ainsworth
Link
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Bo Bragason
Princess Zelda