NEED TO KNOW
The Legend of Zelda live-action movie has found its stars.
Relative newcomers Bo Bragason (The Radleys) and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth (Disney’s Pinocchio) will play Princess Zelda and Link, respectively, in the upcoming film, Shigeru Miyamoto announced in an X post on Wednesday, July 16, along with the movie’s long-awaited release date.
“I’m already looking forward to their performances,” wrote Miyamoto, Nintendo’s legendary video game designer and a representative director at the company, in Japanese.
He added, “The live-action The Legend of Zelda movie is scheduled for theatrical release on May 7, 2027. Please wait just a little longer.”
Wes Ball — director of the Maze Runner trilogy and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes —is directing the project. The movie will be co-financed by Nintendo and Sony Pictures Entertainment.
The Legend of Zelda film adaptation follows Sony’s blockbuster hit Super Mario Bros. Movie, which is based on another legacy Nintendo franchise.
Created by Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka, The Legend of Zelda games follow a brave young hero named Link as he battles the forces of evil from the dark sorcerer Ganon to rescue Princess Zelda and protect the magical kingdom of Hyrule through the restoration of the Triforce, a sacred relic that grants power, wisdom and courage.
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Though each game tells a slightly different story — on a complicated, intertwined timeline — they all revolve around the timeless struggle between good and evil and the cycle of reincarnation of the three main characters: Link, Zelda and Ganon.
Since the original game was released nearly 40 years ago, the series has rolled out 20 additional games, as well as several spinoffs — all typically following Link has he ventures through dungeons, solves puzzles and collects magical items to stop evil from plunging the world into darkness.
The most recent additions are 2024’s Echoes of Wisdom and 2023’s Tears of the Kingdom, the latter a sequel to 2017’s Breath of the Wild. An animated TV series based on the game debuted in 1989, but only aired for a single season.
Back in November 2023, Nintendo announced it was partnering with Avi Arad’s Arad Productions to develop a live-action film based on the classic video-game franchise, first introduced back in 1986.
Miyamoto, who will serve as producer for the movie, wrote in a post on X at the time, “I have been working on the live-action film of The Legend of Zelda for many years now with Avi Arad-san, who has produced many mega hit films.”
“We have now officially started the development of the film with Nintendo itself heavily involved in the production,” he added. “It will take time until its completion, but I hope you look forward to seeing it.”
Nintendo of America/YouTube
Buzz about who might be cast as the video-game hero and heroine has been abound since the film was announced as in development, with Euphoria star Hunter Schafer as one popular suggestions for the ethereal, elfish Princess Zelda.
“Obviously, that would be so cool,” the 26-year-old actress and model told Entertainment Tonight in November 2023, when asked if the role was something she was interested in taking on. “I’m honored that [fans] even think of me for that.”
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As for Link, Machine Gun Kelly threw his name in the ring for the lead role that same month, sharing a screengrab of an article about the movie along with his desire to star.
“if I don’t play Link we have a problem,” the 35-year-old musician and actor, whose real name is Colson Baker, wrote in a caption on his Instagram Stories.
