Latest news with #TheLegendofZelda


Japan Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
Lead actors announced for 'Legend of Zelda' movie
"The Legend of Zelda" is the latest video game to make the leap to the movie screen Two British actors will play the lead roles in the hotly anticipated live-action film adaptation of the "Legend of Zelda" video game franchise, Japan's Nintendo announced. The film's release is set for May 2027, joining a stream of game adaptations from "Super Mario" to "Sonic the Hedgehog" that have stormed the box office in recent years. Bo Bragason will play Princess Zelda and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth will play Link -- an elf warrior who swordfights his way through a monster-filled fantasy world -- Nintendo said on social media platform X. "I am very much looking forward to seeing both of them on the big screen," said the post attributed to game designer and Nintendo executive Shigeru Miyamoto. Miyamoto, the co-producer of "Super Mario", created the "Zelda" universe in 1986. Since then, the hugely popular series has sold more than 140 million games worldwide. Its latest installment, 2024's "The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom", saw the titular character shed her role as a damsel in distress to be the heroine for the first time. Bragason has previously starred in the British TV series "Three Girls" and "Renegade Nell", while Ainsworth was the voice of Pinocchio in a 2022 movie remake. Before the announcement, online speculation had been rife that US trans actress Hunter Schafer, known for HBO hit show "Euphoria", might be picked for the part of Zelda. The movie, directed by Wes Ball of the "Maze Runner" trilogy, is a big-screen first for Zelda, although the game was adapted for a 13-episode animated series in 1989. Movie adaptations of hit video games have become big business, with Nintendo's "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" the second-highest grossing film of 2023. Among other titles being developed into films are Japan's "Elden Ring" and US life-simulation game series "The Sims". © 2025 AFP


Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Nintendo confirms actors playing lead roles in 'The Legend of Zelda' live-action movie
Nintendo has announced the actors who have been cast as the two lead roles for the upcoming live-action film based on the "The Legend of Zelda" video game franchise. will portray Link, while Bo Bragason has been cast as Princess Zelda in the upcoming movie. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In the "Zelda" video games, Link is typically the main character, whose quest involves saving the kingdom of Hyrule from the antagonist Ganon. However, some game iterations have allowed players to control Princess Zelda. It's important to note that Ainsworth's previous roles include Miles Wingrave in Netflix's "The Haunting of Bly Manor" and voicing Pinocchio in Disney's 2022 live-action film. Meanwhile, Bragason has appeared in series such as Disney+'s "Renegade Nell" and the British drama "The Jetty." According to a report by USA Today, both casting selections feature relatively lesser-known actors compared to some of the fan-favourite suggestions. Notably, "Euphoria" star Hunter Schafer was a widely popular choice among fans to portray Zelda, the report claims. Nintendo's 'The Legend of Zelda' live-action movie: What we know so far The Legend of Zelda movie is expected to be the next major Nintendo game adaptation following the massive success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which earned over $1.3 billion globally and became the second highest-grossing film of 2023, just behind Barbie. A sequel to Mario is also in the works and scheduled for release in 2026. Unlike the animated Mario film, Zelda will be a live-action adaptation. The movie is being directed by Wes Ball, known for the Maze Runner trilogy and 2024's Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Ball has long expressed his desire to direct a Zelda movie, even posting back in 2010 on the social media platform X (then Twitter). ' Since I could never even hope to have the chance to direct it .. . the next big (motion capture) 'Avatar'-like movie should be ... THE LEGEND OF ZELDA,' he wrote.


Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'The Legend of Zelda' live-action: Bo Bragason and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth to play the lead characters
The cast of the life action of 'The Legend of Zelda' franchise has been announced - and the internet can't keep calm. While the release has been pushed to 2027 for 'production reasons,' the recent castings gave the fans a glimmer of hope. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Princess Zelda and Link have been announced In an X post by Nintendo's celebrated game designer on June 16, the 72-year-old revealed that Princess Zelda would be played by the 21-year-old actress, Bo Bragason, and Link would be played by the 16-year-old actor, . While 'The Legend of Zelda' was released as an animated series in 1989, it would be the first live-action project of the iconic video game franchise. '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. I am very much looking forward to seeing both of them on the big screen,' Miyamoto shared on X. About the film The film would be adapted from 'The Legend of Zelda' video game series, where the young man and the princess strive to save the world of Hyrule from Ganon. The intricate details about the plot have been kept under wraps, but the cult fans surely know what to expect. Previously, Nintendo released its 'Super Mario Bros. Movie,' which proved to be a phenomenal hit, and now, all the fans have raised their expectations for the upcoming film 'The Legend of Zelda.' About the actors Bragason and Ainsworth, the British actors, have previously worked in a handful of roles. The actress is renowned for her roles in 'Three Girls,' 'The Jetty,' 'Renegade Nell,' and the latest vampire comedy release, 'The Radleys.' While the actor has appeared in 'The Haunting of Bly Manor,' 'Son of a Critch,' and an episode of 'The Sandman,' along with being the voice of Pinocchio in the eponymous film.


SoraNews24
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Live-action Legend of Zelda movie reveals cast for roles of Link and Zelda
Nintendo franchise's next movie project has found its leads. After 2023's The Super Mario Bros. Movie made well over a billion dollars at the box office, it was inevitable that Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda would be making the leap from video game screens to theater ones as well. The big surprise, though, is that unlike the CGI animated Super Mario Bros. Movie , the Zelda movie is going to be live-action. Now, more than a year and a half after the project was first announced, Nintendo has finally revealed who'll be playing the live-action Princess Zelda and series protagonist Link. 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. I am very much looking forward to seeing both of them on the big screen. (1/2) — 任天堂株式会社 (@Nintendo) July 16, 2025 The news came in Nintendo's nonchalant fashion, with Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto first letting everyone know he'd grabbed the handle of the company's official Twitter account before announcing Bo Bragson and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as the movie's stars. The British Bragson's most recent credits include roles in U.K. TV series Renegade Nell and The Jetty and horror-comedy film The Radleys , and she also has some video game-related work on her resume from being the motion capture actress for child-age Luna in Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV , the CGI animated companion piece to the Final Fantasy XV video game. Fellow Brit Ainsworth's highest-profile role to date is as the voice of Pinocchio in Disney's 2022 live-action remake of its animated classic. The choice of largely unknown performers runs almost entirely counter to the casting decisions for the Super Mario Bros. Movie , which went with Hollywood A-listers such as Chris Pratt and Jack Black to voice its characters, resulting in a measure of early backlash from Mario franchise fans who were upset at what they saw as a dilution of the characters' existing personas. Ultimately that didn't do much to hurt the Super Mario Bros. Movie's box office success or reviews, but it's possible that since, by nature of being live-action, the Zelda movie's characters will neither sound nor look just like they do in the games, Nintendo wants to go with actors whose presence won't overshadow the character they're portraying. It's also worth noting that the movie's leads are both very young, with Bragson's age listed as either 20 or 21 and Ainsworth only 16 years old. With Zelda and Link generally looking like young adults in the series most recent games, Bragson and Ainsworth seem to be just old enough to pull off the roles, and could be a sign the Zelda movie's producers are thinking long-term about the possibility of sequels if it's a hit. ▼ A commenter comparison of the live-action Zelda and Link to their modern established appearances — Juve Dc (@Juvelink88) July 16, 2025 The promotional photos included in Nintendo's announcement are a bit of an odd choice, in that they show Bragson and Ainsworth in what could be fantasy-genre costumes and settings (Bragson is even wearing something in the shade of blue Zelda recently favors in the games), which invites comparison to the game's visuals, and perhaps criticism for straying too far from the source-material designs. However, with the live-action Zelda movie not scheduled for release until May of 2027, it's unlikely that filming has begun yet, and so we'll probably have to wait at least a little longer for the first in-costume photos of the cast. Source: Twitter/@Nintendo Featured image: Twitter/@Nintendo Top image: SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Courier-Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Courier-Mail
The Legend of Zelda film casts two young actors as co-leads Link and Princess Zelda
Don't miss out on the headlines from Upcoming Movies. Followed categories will be added to My News. Two young British actors have been cast as the leads for one of the most challenging film adaptations attempted in recent years. Buoyed by the reception of The Super Mario Bros Movie in 2023, and having witnessed the popularity of A Minecraft Movie earlier this year, Nintendo is now seeking similar success by turning its celebrated video game series The Legend of Zelda into a movie too. It's the first attempt to adapt Zelda since an ill-fated animated TV series back in 1989, which was not at all well received. All involved will be hoping for better results now. So, the lead actors. Twenty-one-year-old Bo Bragason, best known for her role in the Disney+ show Renegade Nell, has been cast as the titular Princess Zelda. Bo Bragason at the London premiere for Renegade Nell back in March. Picture: Karwai Tang/WireImage A version of Princess Zelda from the game Skyward Sword. Bragason also has credits to her name from TV series Three Girls and The Jetty, plus horror films Censor and The Radleys. Meanwhile, 16-year-old Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, who was the voice of Pinocchio in Disney's 2022 live-action remake of the children's classic, will play the sword-wielding hero Link. His credits also include The Haunting of Bly Manor, All Fun and Games and Everything's Going to Be Great. Ainsworth is facing a rather unique challenge, and so are the writers who will come up with his lines. He's playing a character who, famously, never talks in the game series. At all. Link's only vocalisations are grunts, sighs and other non-verbal noises. It's about as unadaptable a character, for the big screen, as you could imagine. Benjamin Evan Ainsworth at the Canadian Screen Awards last year. Picture: Isaiah Trickey/FilmMagic One version of Link, in the game Ocarina of Time, back in the 1990s. Picture: Nintendo And a more recent iteration, from Tears of the Kingdom. Picture: Nintendo Nintendo's legendary game director Shigeru Miyamoto announced the double-casting on social media, voicing his excitement. '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. I am very much looking forward to seeing both of them on the big screen,' he said. 'The film is scheduled to be released in theatres on May 7, 2027. Thank you for your patience,' Miyamoto added. The film is still awaiting its villain. In most of the Zelda games, Link and Zelda go up against a power-hungry demon king called Ganon, or Ganondorf. The director attached to the project is Wes Ball, whom you'd know from The Maze Runner, which adapted the young adult novel of the same name, and The Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, the fourth film in that series. 'I've been thinking about it for a long freakin' time, how cool a Zelda movie would be,' Ball told Total Film last year. 'I want to fulfil people's greatest desires. I know it's important, this 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.' Originally published as The Legend of Zelda film casts two young actors as co-leads Link and Princess Zelda