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Following the recent leaked set footage from the upcoming The Legend of Zelda movie, Nintendo has unveiled the first official look at Link and Zelda via the X platform.

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The movie has begun principal photography in New Zealand and is scheduled for a 7th May 2027 release date. Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, known for The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020) is set to play Link, while Bo Bragason (The Radleys, 2024) has been cast as Princess Zelda.

Recent leaked footage which we won't share here showed a glimpse of Bo Bragason (Zelda) in a forest location talking to another character which fans have speculated may be Impa alongside several horses and knights. Zelda is wearing a royal blue outfit reminiscent of her outfit in Breath of the Wild while Link can be seen wearing his traditional green tunic.

Miyamoto took to X/Twitter to share the official first look, saying:

This is Miyamoto. We have commenced principal photography on the live-action adaptation of The Legend of Zelda amidst magnificent natural landscapes, alongside Bo Bragason as Zelda and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link. Filming is progressing smoothly, so we would be grateful if you could kindly bear with us. The theatrical release is scheduled for 7th May 2027. Please wait a little longer.

Source

 

[Robert Newbie]

While this looks interesting, I'm uncertain. Do they have Matt Mercer playing Ganondorf?

I believe Nintendo confirmed that Chris Pratt's and Jack Black's voices will be mixed together.

Jokes aside, only the two leads for Link and Zelda have been confirmed. Based on the Mario Movie, I'd expect any known voice actors from the games only having cameos.

 

[codezer0]

So instead of an (Ash Ketchum free) Pokémon cinematic universe (since lionsgate was hoping to do that after Detective pikachu), we get mute elf boy and narcissistic princess vs generic pig demon evil guy #972.

And the Zelda fanboys are already furiously mashing their keyboards reading this. News flash; you're just as much a part of why I get no joy from Zelda games at all. Your hate only justifies my apathy. But go on with your bad self and grow your e-peen trying to tell me how wrong I am.

 

[soulfingers83]

I have to say I'm a bit disappointed they went with live action for this movie. THe Zelda universe is perfect for traditional animation in the style of Studio Ghibli etc. All the recent live action Disney movies are lacking a certain magic that you get to experience from watching hand drawn characters come to life. I really hope I'm proven wrong though, I'll still go to see it regardless!

 

[Bladexdsl]

i'm looking forward more to the mario galaxy movie than THIS

 

[Robert Newbie]

I have to say I'm a bit disappointed they went with live action for this movie. THe Zelda universe is perfect for traditional animation in the style of Studio Ghibli etc. All the recent live action Disney movies are lacking a certain magic that you get to experience from watching hand drawn characters come to life. I really hope I'm proven wrong though, I'll still go to see it regardless!

I think the Zelda universe is fairly versatile for adaptations. I could see it working with CG, traditional animation, and live action. Having that been said, I give Nintendo credit for attempting live action.

What I am concerned about is the movie being too stereotypical in how it uses CG. You know, the ever-expanding blanket of black smoke that covers the floor, super glossy CG flowers that bloom as the character passes by, etc. I feel the Zelda universe has plenty of creative imagery to work off of, so it'd be a crime if the movie ends up feeling generic.

Another big issue is if every Nintendo movie ends up being an origin story. The Mario movie predictably did this, so it went through familiar beats. Humorously enough, most individual Zelda stories lend themselves to that formula. It makes me wonder if a Bond film format (The entertainment is in the journey, not the predictable beginning and end.) would be a good fit for a Zelda movie franchise.

I'm thinking too much, I'm stopping here.

TL;DR: It'll be interesting to see how Nintendo crafts the Zelda movie. Will it be cookie-cutter, or something special?

 

[doorbell8423]

.

 

[Elrasiel]

I wonder how daddy they make Ganon look...

 

[Veho]

So who will be playing Navi?

They always have been to me. The beginning of the SNES game when your father dies he says "Zelda is your..." *dies*

And I always assumed the next word was going to be sister.

"...destiny."

Problem retconned solved.


"...step-sister."

Problem exacerbated

 

[Robert Newbie]

So who will be playing Navi?



"...destiny."

Problem retconned solved.


"...step-sister."

Problem exacerbated

The funniest thing is that whoever wrote that line in A Link to the Past probably didn't think people would still be analyzing it 30+ years later. Going by the Japanese version:

"お、お前は、姫の　…　…。"
"Y- you're the Princess'... ..."

The question is if the more literal translation ("Princess" instead of "Zelda") would have prevented some of the confusion.

Also, Internet, we need to talk. Link's Uncle doesn't ??? in that underground pit. He's fine. HE'S FINE.

 

[Skelletonike]

So who will be playing Navi?



"...destiny."

Problem retconned solved.


"...step-sister."

Problem exacerbated

I always assumed it was fated one or something.

They are always connected, reincarnation after reincarnation and romantically involved at times.

 

[Veho]

I always assumed it was fated one or something.

They are always connected, reincarnation after reincarnation and romantically involved at times.

Yes, that. The two of them are eternally... Linked.

 

[PatrickD85]

People gonna complain either way about it.

The setting and posture seem fine with me.

Once we hear the first lines being spoken we will now how good casting was, as we know how Zelda, her father, Ganondorf, Impa, the Deku Tree and the like sound. If they dont match one bit, gamers will be out.

 

[Robert Newbie]

People gonna complain either way about it.

The setting and posture seem fine with me.

Once we hear the first lines being spoken we will now how good casting was, as we know how Zelda, her father, Ganondorf, Impa, the Deku Tree and the like sound. If they dont match one bit, gamers will be out.

I'd argue that the general audience is pretty lenient on these things. It's nerds like me that nitpick.

For example, I felt many of the characters looked off-model in the Mario movie. Kamek was the best all-around, looking and sounding how you'd expect. Bowser's model in particular looked just slightly off:

I didn't mind Chris Pratt's interpretation of Mario, especially since I'm not sure which version I'd like the most in a movie format. The high pitch of Charles Martinet? The gravelly variant from Walker Boone (Super Mario World), or the in-between qualities of Captain Lou Albano's Mario (Super Mario Bros. Super Show)? Who knows.

Hollywood adaptations usually veer off course to begin with, between studio mandates and creatives trying to put their own spin on things. Considering, the Mario movie turned out decent enough. For the Zelda movie, all we can do is wait.

 

[whitesword7]

lol at the people saying they look like kids, really shows how old you are

 

[Robert Newbie]

lol at the people saying they look like kids, really shows how old you are

I was born before the Internet. I was born before Nokia cell phones. I was born before Jumpman's appearance in Donkey Kong.

I do not hide this.

 

[Paralel]

That blonde hair but dark eyebrows on Link are terrible.

 

[Veho]

That blonde hair but dark eyebrows on Link are terrible.

It's canon though

 

[Robert Newbie]

It's canon though


View attachment 540464

Story checks out.

If I were looking for problems in these images, I'd comment on Link's lack of weaponry. I have to be honest, it'd be weird to watch Link have to learn to be Link, since he can already swing a sword and shoot a bow at the beginning of every game. (Elongated Nintendo-mandated tutorials not withstanding)

Oh my goodness, what if the Zelda movie is mostly the tutorial?

 

[Godorowski]

Movie will be mediocre trash. Nothing more than a cheaply done cash grab relying solely on the Zelda name to sell tickets. You do not adapt a franchise like Zelda for the big screen & then proceed to cast 2 untalented actors that no one has ever heard of. An adaption of a franchise like Zelda requires tens of millions of dollars & known faces.

I also wanted Dwayne Johnson as Zelda and Adolf Hitler as link but Dwayne is bald and Adolf is dead.

Let them cook, we will see.

 

[Paralel]

Story checks out.
View attachment 540468

If I were looking for problems in these images, I'd comment on Link's lack of weaponry. I have to be honest, it'd be weird to watch Link have to learn to be Link, since he can already swing a sword and shoot a bow at the beginning of every game. (Elongated Nintendo-mandated tutorials not withstanding)

Oh my goodness, what if the Zelda movie is mostly the tutorial?

For some reason it looks far less jarring in cartoon form. But, you are clearly correct.