Nintendo Confirms Actors Set to Play Link and Zelda in Live-Action The Legend of Zelda Film

Nintendo has confirmed the pb actors for its upcoming live-action The Legend of Zelda movie.

Zelda volition beryllium played by Bo Bragason, and Link by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth.

The casting was confirmed connected societal media contiguous successful a connection from Nintendo fable Shigeru Miyamoto, who said helium was "very overmuch looking forward" to seeing the brace successful the series' iconic pb roles.

Bo Bragason arsenic Princess Zelda, and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth arsenic Link. Image credit: Nintendo

"This is Miyamoto," wrote Miyamoto. "I americium pleased to denote that for the live-action movie of The Legend of Zelda, Zelda volition beryllium played by Bo Bragason-san, and Link by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth-san. I americium precise overmuch looking guardant to seeing some of them connected the large screen.

"The movie is scheduled to beryllium released successful theaters connected May 7, 2027. Thank you for your patience."

Bragason, 21, antecedently appeared successful Netflix phantasy escapade bid Renegade Nell, arsenic good arsenic BBC transgression play adaptation The Jetty.

Ainsworth, aged conscionable 16, has lone a fistful of roles to his name, though notably appeared successful Netflix fearfulness bid The Haunting of Bly Manor.

Today's representation of the brace looks to diagnostic the actors successful immoderate benignant of costume for their roles, with Bragason's bluish formal reminiscent of the colour she wears successful Breath of the Wild. Ainsworth, meanwhile, wears what appears to beryllium a acheronian greenish tunic.

Officially announced successful November 2023, Nintendo's live-action The Legend of Zelda task is being produced by Miyamoto alongside Avi Arad, erstwhile CEO of Marvel Studios. Sony Pictures Entertainment volition grip organisation successful summation to co-financing the movie with Nintendo. Jurassic World’s Derek Connolly is penning the screenplay, portion Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes' Wes Ball volition direct.

Last month, Nintendo delayed the film's merchandise from March 2027 to its caller May 7, 2027 day — the time Marvel was antecedently acceptable to motorboat Avengers: Secret Wars, which present arrives connected December 17, 2027 instead.

"For accumulation reasons, we are changing the merchandise day of the live-action movie of The Legend of Zelda to May 7, 2027," Miyamoto said astatine the time. "It volition beryllium immoderate weeks aboriginal than the merchandise timing we primitively announced, and we volition instrumentality the other clip to marque the movie arsenic bully arsenic it tin be. Thank you for your patience."

Nintendo did not elaborate further, though manufacture onlookers noted that the film's caller slot gave it much breathing country from respective different outpouring 2027 blockbusters, specified arsenic Godzilla x Kong: Supernova, and Nintendo's aged rival himself: Sonic The Hedgehog.

With little than 2 years to spell until The Legend of Zelda opens successful theaters, Nintendo is yet to accidental thing of the film's communicative oregon setting. Today's casting quality is the biggest portion of accusation astir the task to materialise since its archetypal announcement.

Discussing the movie successful May 2024, manager Wes Ball said the imaginable of making an each mo-cap Zelda movie “probably isn't his choice” aft completing enactment connected the CG-heavy KIngdom of the Planet of the Apes. Instead, Ball said, The Legend of Zelda should consciousness "grounded" and "real."

"I privation to fulfill people's top desires," Ball said successful different interrogation astir the project. "I cognize it's important, this franchise, to people, and I privation it to beryllium a superior movie. A existent movie that tin springiness radical an escape… [It has] to consciousness similar thing real. Something superior and chill but amusive and whimsical."

Before each that, Nintendo's big-screen plans proceed successful 2026 with the accomplishment of its animated Super Mario Bros. Movie sequel. The institution besides appears to person plans for an animated Donkey Kong spin-off film, too.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You tin scope Tom astatine [email protected] oregon find him connected Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social