Nintendo Nintendo has just announced the lead actors for the upcoming live-action adaptation of The Legend of Zelda movie. Read on to learn more about Nintendo's exciting announcement and a brief history about the said movie!
Zelda and Link Movie Casting Officially Announced
Zelda Movie Coming to Theaters May 7, 2027
After months and months of speculation and fan dream-casting, Nintendo has finally revealed the actors who will take up the mantle of one of gaming’s most iconic duos. Bo Bragason and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth have been officially cast as Princess Zelda and Link in the upcoming live-action adaptation of The Legend of Zelda, set to hit theaters on May 7, 2027.
The announcement was made earlier today via Nintendo’s social media channels, accompanied by a short message from Zelda creator Shigeru 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 wrote.
The reveal came alongside a photo of the actors seemingly in costume, with Bragason in what appears to be a blue dress reminiscent of Zelda’s Breath of the Wild attire, and Ainsworth in a dark green tunic that echoes Link’s traditional look.
Bragason, 21, may not be a household name yet, but she has built a resume that includes main roles in Renegade Nell, a fantasy-action series on Disney+, and The Radleys, a vampire dramedy. Though we have yet to see her interpretation of Zelda beyond the image Nintendo posted, she does look primed to embody the princess, especially the more mature, warrior-like incarnations seen in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.
Meanwhile, 16-year-old Benjamin Evan Ainsworth is no stranger to demanding roles. Best known for his haunting role as Miles in Mike Flanagan’s The Haunting of Bly Manor, Ainsworth also voiced the titular puppet in Robert Zemeckis’ live-action Pinocchio back in 2022. More recently, however, he starred in the 2025 dramedy Everything’s Going to be Great as Lester Smart. Though he hasn’t led a blockbuster before, his range across various genres suggests he could bring both the vulnerability and heroism needed to portray Link, a version that director Wes Ball has described back in May 2024 as "grounded" and "real."
The online community had no shortage of dream casting for the Hylian leads, with names like Milly Alcock (House of the Dragon) and Hunter Schafer (Euphoria) frequently suggested for Zelda. For Link, fans often nominated Tom Holland (Spider-Man) and Thomas Brodie-Sangster (Maze Runner). In this context, the reveal of Bragason and Ainsworth was quite a surprise, yet a curious choice that trades celebrity recognition for more rising talent.
A Brief History of the Long-Awaited Zelda Movie
The Legend of Zelda movie was officially announced in November 2023, with Miyamoto producing alongside Avi Arad, former head of Marvel Studios. Directed by Wes Ball (of the Maze Runner Trilogy fame) and written by Pokemon Detective Pikachu’s Derek Connolly, the film will be distributed by Sony Pictures and co-financed by Nintendo, which could be a strong indicator of how seriously the company is treating this project.
This isn’t Nintendo’s first foray into film. The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) was a smash hit, grossing over $1.3 billion globally. The success, it seems, emboldened the company to bring Zelda to life, though this time in live action rather than animation. Miyamoto has stated in Nintendo’s socials last month that the delay to May 2027 (originally set for March) is to "make the film as good as it can be"—a sentiment many longtime fans appreciated.
As of now, plot details remain tightly under wraps. No official word yet on whether the story will borrow directly from a specific game or stand alone as part of the series’ long-winded timeline. All we know about the upcoming movie’s plot comes from director Wes Ball, who, in an interview with Total Film magazine (as reported by GamesRadar+), described his take as "something real. Something serious and cool, but fun and whimsical."
With less than two years until release, anticipation continues to mount. Although fans may have to wait a bit longer to see the Triforce in action, Nintendo appears to be taking this adaptation seriously. And with a little bit of courage, wisdom, and power, it just might stick the landing when it premiers in May 2027.
Source:
Nintendo | Zelda Movie Official Cast Reveal
Benjamin Evan Ainsworth’s IMDb Page
Nintendo | Development of a Live-Action Film of The Legend of Zelda to Start
Nintendo | Zelda Movie Delay Announcement
