It’s finally official: Nintendo has named its two leads for the upcoming Legend of Zelda live-action movie, and it’s a pair of rising stars ready to step into one of gaming’s most legendary fantasy worlds. Announced today via a statement from Nintendo icon Shigeru Miyamoto, Zelda will be played by Bo Bragason, and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth will wield the Master Sword as Link.
“This is Miyamoto,” the legendary game designer wrote on social media. “I am pleased to announce that for the live-action film ofThe 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.”
The long-gestating film is now set to hit theaters on May 7, 2027, following a brief delay from its original March window, which will give the team behind the movie extra time to “make the film as good as it can be“, according to Nintendo.
Who Are The New Link and Zelda?
Bragason, 21, is best known for her work in Renegade Nell and the BBC crime drama The Jetty. Ainsworth, just 16, gained recognition for his standout role in The Haunting of Bly Manor, showcasing early promise that Nintendo and director Wes Ball clearly saw fit for one of gaming’s most iconic silent heroes.
A new photo released with the announcement shows Bragason in a regal blue gown, drawing clear inspiration from Breath of the Wild’s iteration of Zelda, while Ainsworth appears in a classic dark green tunic. While details about the film’s setting remain tightly under wraps, the image has only fueled speculation that this adaptation could pull heavily from the tone and style of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.
The project was first announced in November 2023 and is being produced by Shigeru Miyamoto and Avi Arad (formerly of Marvel Studios), with Sony Pictures Entertainment distributing and co-financing alongside Nintendo. Jurassic World and Kong: Skull Island screenwriter Derek Connolly is penning the script, while Wes Ball, hot off Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, will direct. But don’t expect a fully digital affair — Ball has already said he’s avoiding an all-mo-cap production in favor of something more “grounded.”
“I want to fulfill people’s greatest desires,” Ball told fans in 2024. “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… [It has] to feel like something real. Something serious and cool but fun and whimsical.”
Despite that grounded tone, there’s no word yet on the actual plot, timeline, or villain. With Ganon still uncast, fans are already speculating on potential contenders to fill the Ganondorf-sized shoes — including Jack Black, Chris Pratt, and Danny DeVito (seriously, it’s trending).
via Collider