Zelda heads to the big screen
Following the massive success of Nintendo’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Nintendo is returning with a live-action The Legend of Zelda movie.
The company is leaning into non-gaming projects like this as part of a planned effort to reach people in new ways outside of games.
The Zelda movie crossed a major development milestone recently when it finished filming in New Zealand.
It is a co-production between Nintendo and Sony Pictures, with Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto producing. Marvel veteran Avi Arad is another producer on the movie.
Nintendo and Sony Pictures are co-financing the movie, with Nintendo’s financial stake standing at more than 50%. Sony Pictures will distribute the film globally.
In this post, we’re rounding up everything we know about the Zelda movie.
What is the Zelda movie about?
Neither Nintendo nor production partner Sony Pictures have released the official plot synopsis for the Zelda movie. But it’s a safe bet to guess that the movie will feature popular characters from the renowned RPG series, including Zelda and Link, as well as Ganondorf. The Zelda series is full of fantastical characters and environments, and it’ll be interesting to see what kind of story Nintendo decides to tell, or if the film could be an adaptation of a specific game.
A key difference between the Zelda movie and The Super Mario Bros. Movie (and its sequel) is that the Zelda movie is a live-action production as opposed to an animated feature film.
When is the Zelda movie coming out?
The Zelda movie was originally set for its premiere in March 2027, but it was later delayed it to May 2027. Then it was brought forward to April 30.
Miyamoto said of the latest change, “We have decided to change the worldwide theatrical release date of the live-action film The Legend of Zelda from May 7, 2027 to April 30, 2027. In order to deliver it to everyone even one day sooner, the team is united in advancing production. It’s less than a year until release, but please wait just a little longer.”
It will be the third Nintendo movie in four years, following The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026). Nintendo has said it wants to ramp up its moviemaking efforts so it has a steady cadence of releases going forward.
Who’s going to be in the Zelda movie?
In mid-July 2025, Nintendo confirmed the main actors for the Zelda movie.
Zelda will be played by Bo Bragason, and Link will be portrayed by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth.
“I am pleased to announce that for the live-action film of The Legend of Zelda, Zelda will be played by Bo Bragason, and Link by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth. I am very much looking forward to seeing both of them on the big screen,” veteran Nintendo developer Shigeru Miyamoto wrote in a social media post.
An English actress, Bragason’s first major role was in the 2017 television series Three Girls, and she also appeared in the 2021 horror film Censor. Since then, she has had several more roles in TV series and films. Interestingly, she also voiced a young version of the character Luna in Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy, a 2021 CG-animated film that tied in to Final Fantasy 15.
Ainsworth is also an English actor, and his previous acting credits include The Haunting of Bly Manor, Flora & Ulysses, and Pinocchio.
While not confirmed, it’s rumored that Severance actor Dichen Lachman will appear in the movie as Impa. It’s also rumored that Uli Latukefu will play Ganondorf. The late Sam Neill, who just recently passed from cancer, is also reportedly in the film–though his role remains unclear–and Chuck star Yvonne Strahovski may be playing a queen character.
Is there a trailer for the Zelda movie?
There is no trailer for the Zelda movie yet, and there likely won’t be one soon. Rest assured, though, whenever a trailer is released, it’ll be a big deal that gets the internet talking.
Who’s directing the Zelda movie?
The live-action Zelda movie will be directed by Wes Ball, who is known for his work on the Maze Runner series and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. The filmmaker wants to swing for live-action Hayao Miyazaki aesthetics with The Legend of Zelda movie, as well as for it to “feel like something real. It remains to be seen exactly what that means, however.
Ball, the director, previously teased his vision for the Zelda movie. “I have this awesome idea,” he said. “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. 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.”
What about that Zelda TV show?
Years ago, it was reported that Nintendo and Netflix were in discussions for a live-action Zelda TV series. It was reported that the TV show was aiming to be “Game of Thrones for a family audience.” Nintendo responded to the report, but never flat-out denied it. In any event, though, a live-action Zelda TV show is not happening anytime soon.
Leaks from set
Filming for the Zelda movie began in November 2025 in New Zealand. Someone appeared to have gotten close enough to the set to film some video, providing a first glimpse at the production.
Nintendo releases the first official images
In November 2025, following leaks from the movie’s set, Nintendo released the first production stills–and they are quite spectacular.
Finished filming
Filming wrapped on The Legend of Zelda in April 2026. The movie doesn’t hit theaters until May 2027, but there is likely significant post-production work to be done ahead of release.
