The Legend of Zelda is arguably one of the most highly anticipated video game adaptations in cinema history. Several revolutionary Zelda games have been released within the past four decades to much fanfare, so a blockbuster film based on the franchise has been long overdue.
After Zelda received a divisive cartoon in the ’80s, there have been several failed attempts at adapting the games for film and television. Since video game adaptations have gained a bad reputation due to films like 1993’s Super Mario Bros., the chances of a Zelda movie coming to fruition seemed slim for a while. Fortunately, following the success of films like Pokémon: Detective Pikachu and The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Nintendo finally gave a live-action Zelda movie the green light.
Here is everything we know so far about The Legend of Zelda.
Who is making The Legend of Zelda?
The Legend of Zelda will be directed by Wes Ball. He is known for helming the Maze Runner film trilogy and the hit sci-fi blockbuster, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Ball told Entertainment Weekly that he has been a Zelda fan for a long time, and his love for the games all but ensures a proper big-screen adaptation.
“It’s going to be awesome,” said Ball. “My whole life has led up to this moment. I grew up on Zelda, and it is the most important property, I think, that’s untapped IP, if you will. So we very much are working hard to do something. We’re not just trying to do it because we can. We want to make something really special.”
Ball will produce the film alongside Joe Hartwick Jr. through their production company, Oddball Entertainment. The Legend of Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto and former Marvel Studios CEO Avi Arad will also produce.
Nintendo will develop the film with Sony Pictures, which will serve as a co-financier and global distributor. This is surprising, given that Sony is known for developing Nintendo’s top console competitor, the PlayStation.
The screenplay for The Legend of Zelda will be written by Derek Connolly (Kong: Skull Island, Pokémon: Detective Pikachu) and T.S. Nowlin (The Adam Project and The Maze Runner trilogy).
The film will be edited by Dan Zimmerman, who worked on recent hits like Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes and The Thursday Murder Club. IMDb has also credited John Paesano as the film’s composer. Paesano is known for composing the music in Netflix’s Daredevil, Invincible, and Insomniac’s Spider-Man video games.
In addition, Daniel T. Dorrance will serve as the film’s production designer, having previously worked with Ball on his Planet of the Apes movie. The production has even hired Emmy-winning costume designer Michele Clapton, who is famous for making costumes for Game of Thrones and The Crown.
What’s the plot of The Legend of Zelda?
The film’s synopsis reads on Productionlist.com: “A live-action adaptation of the video game franchise, The Legend of Zelda, follows Link, a young warrior destined to protect the magical kingdom of Hyrule from the forces of darkness. The land is under threat from Ganon, a ruthless warlord who seeks the Triforce – an ancient relic said to grant limitless power.
“To stop him, Link must embark on a perilous journey, battling monstrous creatures, exploring treacherous dungeons, and solving intricate puzzles to uncover sacred artifacts that can aid him in his quest.”
This is a fairly standard description for a Zelda film, given that it describes the basic premise for many games in the franchise. It’s unclear whether the film will adapt the story of a single Zelda game or multiple Zelda games. Since it is the start of a rumored franchise, the movie will likely draw from core elements from the first Legend of Zelda game, Ocarina of Time, and/or Breath of the Wild.
Whatever the story may be, Ball told Variety he intends to film his Zelda adaptation as a “live-action Hayao Miyazaki movie,” hoping to bring the anime director’s “wonder and whimsy” to this project.
While Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy seems like the most obvious inspiration for this film’s cinematic style, Miyazaki’s influence is much more fitting. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom featured several plot and visual references to Miyazaki’s films, specifically Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Castle in the Sky, Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Spirited Away.
Who is cast in The Legend of Zelda?
Instead of having two A-list actors to play the lead characters, the filmmakers chose two up-and-coming actors to play Link and Zelda in the new movie. Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, who’s best known for playing Miles in Netflix’s The Haunting of Bly Manor, will portray Link. Meanwhile, Bo Bragason, who starred in Renegade Nell and The Jetty, will play the film’s titular princess. Shigeru Miyamoto announced the casting of Bragason and Ainsworth on July 16, 2025.
No actor has been cast as the villain Ganondorf at this time. The filmmakers may cast an actor of Middle Eastern or North African descent to portray the Gerudo king in live-action.
However, given Ganondorf’s massive size in the games, the film could replicate his imposing figure by making him a CGI character with an actor providing a vocal, motion-capture performance, similar to Thanos in the Avengers film franchise. However, Ball could take inspiration from the Lord of the Rings films by using forced perspective to make Ganondorf’s actor look taller than the rest of the cast.
The remaining cast for the film is still unknown. We do know that there are so many characters that The Legend of Zelda could present on the big screen, given the depth and diversity of the source material.
However, based on leaked BTS footage on X, many now believe that Dichen Lachman, who played Ms. Casey/Gemma in the hit Apple TV series, Severance, is starring in the film. Lachman was supposedly seen in a purple outfit with white hair, talking to Bragason, implying that the former has been cast as the Sheikah warrior and Zelda’s advisor/bodyguard, Impa. If this is true, then this would be Lachman’s second collaboration with Ball after starring as Korina in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
Since the Sheikah are an East Asian-inspired tribe of ninja-esque warriors, having an East Asian actor portray Impa seems to be the most sensible choice. Lachman’s supposed cast also suggests the filmmakers intend to strike a healthy balance between well-known and up-and-coming actors.
As for the different races that dwell in Hyrule, the mountain-dwelling Gorons and the aquatic Zoras have a strong chance of appearing as well. Such characters could be brought to life with CGI, practical makeup, or both.
When does The Legend of Zelda begin filming?
Principal photography began for The Legend of Zelda in November 2025. Productionlist.com claims that filming will wrap on April 7, 2026. The production team was spotted filming in Wellington, New Zealand. It seems Ball is taking the Lord of the Rings-style approach by shooting his epic fantasy blockbuster in New Zealand.
A brief video of the Zelda movie’s cast in New Zealand went viral online. Bragason was seen wearing a blue garment similar to Zelda’s in Breath of the Wild. Ainsworth was also spotted wearing Link’s trademark green tunic, with a cloak replacing the hero’s traditional green cap. Both actors were seen with the pointy elven ears that Hylians are famous for in the Zelda franchise.
Soon enough, official stills of the film’s two leads were released online on November 17, 2025, giving fans a better look at the live-action Link and Zelda. Bragason is seen with a bow and arrows, which have often been Zelda’s weapon of choice in the games. Based on what has been revealed so far, it looks like Zelda will accompany Link on his dangerous journey throughout Hyrule.
Meanwhile, Ainsworth’s green costume bears a strong resemblance to the Champion’s Tunic Link wore in Breath of the Wild. Also, upon closer inspection, you can see that Link has the Kokiri symbol on his shoulder strap. This little detail implies a lot about the story.
Specifically, it suggests that the film’s Link will have an origin similar to that of his counterpart in Ocarina of Time. This game presented Link as an orphaned Hylian raised among the Kokiri after his mother died while escaping into the forest during the Hyrulean Civil War.
All in all, the designs for both characters look perfect.
Will there be a sequel to The Legend of Zelda?
Although the first Zelda film hasn’t been completed yet, movie industry insider Daniel Richtman claimed that Nintendo and Sony Pictures intend to make a Zelda movie trilogy. Richtman claims that all the major actors will be signed up to appear in a total of three films made over the course of six years.
This could mean that The Legend of Zelda will truly become the next Lord of the Rings, as it seems like it will be Hollywood’s next big fantasy film trilogy.
Does The Legend of Zelda have a release date?
The Legend of Zelda will hit theaters on May 7, 2027.
