Live-Action ‘The Legend of Zelda’ Production Gets Underway; Nintendo Unveils First-Look Photos
Nintendo’s live-action The Legend of Zelda film has begun production, as Nintendo’s X account revealed this morning.
Japanese game designer Shigeru Miyamoto via the Nintendo account tweeted three first-look photos of Bo Bragason as Zelda and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link in “a lush, natural setting.”
Originally set to hit theaters March 26, 2027, Miyamoto previously relayed on X that the release date would shift to May 7, 2027 “for production reasons.” Sony is distributing the film.
Wes Ball is directing the live-action film with Miyamoto and Avi Arad producing. T.S. Nowlin wrote the most recent draft of the screenplay, taking over from Derek Connolly (Jurassic World). Ball will also produce with his partner Joe Hartwick Jr. under their Oddball Entertainment banner.
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Bragason has previously appeared in Censor, the Sundance horror movie from Prano Bailey-Bond, and The Radleys from Euros Lyn as well as shows like Renegade Nell. She will also appear in Megan Park’s (My Old Ass) upcoming YA drama series Sterling Point. Ainsworth’s past credits include Pinocchio, The Haunting of Bly Manor and Everything’s Going to Be Great.
Based on the videogame created by Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka which launched in 1986, the story centers elf-like warrior Link and Princess Zelda who team up to fight Ganon, an former warlord-turned-evil-demon-king, and save the magical land of Hyrule.
Zelda has remained one of Nintendo’s most in-demand games, leading to the release of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time in 1998. The franchise has sold over 150 million units over the decades with various installments for different gaming consoles.
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Nintendo also has The Super Mario Galaxy Movie on deck for an April 3 release next year. The Illumination and Universal sequel will include a mostly returning voice cast with additions Brie Larson and Benny Safdie. A trailer was released last week.
See more photos from the start of production for Zelda below:
Bo Bragason-san as Zelda
Nintendo/Sony
Benjamin Evan Ainsworth-san as Link in ‘The Legend of Zelda’
Nintendo/Sony
