LEGEND OF ZELDA Live-Action Movie Casts Its Link and Zelda and There's First Look Photos — GeekTyrant

Geek Tyrant

2 days ago

Nintendo and Sony Pictures have officially revealed the stars of their highly anticipated live-action Legend of Zelda movie. Shigeru Miyamoto took to Nintendo's official X page early this morning to announce the news.
'This is Miyamoto. 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,' Miyamoto wrote, alongside the first images of the actors in costume. 'I am very much looking forward to seeing both of them on the big screen.'
Bo Bragason, a rising star best known for the cult horror flick Censor and the film The Radleys , will bring Princess Zelda to life. She's also set to appear in Prime Video's upcoming YA series Sterling Point , so expect to hear her name a lot more in the coming years.
Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, who you might recognize from The Haunting of Bly Manor or Disney's Pinocchio , will don the green tunic as Link. The young actor has been on the industry's radar for a while, and this role could be his biggest yet.
Sony announced the project back in fall 2023, confirming that it will co-finance the film with Nintendo. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes director Wes Ball is at the helm, while Miyamoto teams up with producer Avi Arad. The latest draft of the script was written by T.S. Nowlin ( The Maze Runner ).
Casting rumors have been wild for months—fans heavily pushed for Euphoria's Hunter Schafer as Zelda, and insiders say actors Mason Thames and Brady Hepner were also in the running for Link before Ainsworth snagged the role.
During a previous interview, the director shared that he's looking for the movie to be both serious and whimsical: "I have this awesome idea. I've been thinking about it for a long freakin' time, of how cool a Zelda movie would be... I want to fulfill people's greatest desires.'
He continued: 'I know it's important, this [Zelda] franchise, to people and I want it to be a serious movie. A real movie that can give people an escape. That's the thing I want to try to create – it's got to feel like something real. Something serious and cool, but fun and whimsical."
Ball also previously explain that the movie will be more inspired by the work of Hayao Miyazaki and less like The Lord of the Rings .
Ball said: 'This awesome fantasy-adventure movie that isn't like Lord of the Rings, it's its own thing. I've always said, I would love to see a live-action Miyazaki. That wonder and whimsy that he brings to things, I would love to see something like that."
He went on to explain: "It's going to be awesome. 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 also opened up about how important this film is to him saying: "We're working on it. I think it's gonna be great. Fans are gonna be happy. Legend of Zelda, to me, is one of the most important things ever in my life. You know, next to Star Wars."
He added: 'I've played Legend of Zelda throughout my childhood into my adulthood. You know what I mean? I am a fan. I am a fellow fan. I will go to the ends of the earth to make sure that it is the movie we all hope it will be."
The Legend of Zelda follows the adventures of a young hero named Link, who is often tasked with rescuing Princess Zelda and battling the malevolent villain Ganon.
Since debuting in 1986, The Legend of Zelda has become one of Nintendo's crown jewels, selling more than 150 million units and spawning some of the most beloved games in history, like 1998's Ocarina of Time, still considered one of the greatest games ever made.
The film is scheduled to hit theaters May 7, 2027.