'The Legend of Zelda' movie finds its live-action Princess Zelda and Link
Shigeru Miyamoto, the game designer, producer, and game director at Nintendo, announced over social media Wednesday that young actors Bo Bragason and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth will play the roles of Princess Zelda and Link, respectively.
"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 said in a statement. "I am very much looking forward to seeing both of them on the big screen."
The official Nintendo account also shared photos of the pair in what look to be the first look at them in costume.
British actress Bragason is a relative newcomer, having appeared in episodes of The Jetty and Renegade Nell. She was last seen in King and Conqueror, about William of Normandy and Harold of Wessex.
Ainsworth, however, is more known to international audiences. He played a young Miles Wingrave in Mike Flanagan's The Haunting of Hill House follow-up on Netflix, The Haunting of Bly Manor. He also had a role on Netflix's The Sandman early in season 1, and he starred as the voice of Pinocchio in Disney's live-action/CG hybrid movie adaptation.
This casting may come as a surprise if you keep track of internet rumors, but such is the way of our online reality. Fans seemed to dream-cast Schafer in the role of Zelda, after which the actress was asked about it on a 2023 red carpet by Entertainment Tonight."I mean, yeah! Obviously. That would be so cool," Schafer said of the suggestion.
Online "scoopers" then claimed Schafer was being considered for the Zelda role, though these reports remained unconfirmed. And now here we are.
Sony Pictures and Nintendo shifted the release date for The Legend of Zelda live-action movie a few times, and it's now currently scheduled for theaters on May 7, 2027.
Wes Ball, who did 2024's Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, will direct. He previously described his vision to Entertainment Weekly, calling it "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."
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