Nintendo and Sony have revealed the lead cast for their much‑anticipated live‑action adaptation of The Legend of Zelda, set to debut in theaters on May 7, 2027. The casting was unveiled today by Legend of Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto via Nintendo’s social channels, officially confirming Bo Bragason as Princess Zelda and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link.
Bragason, a 21‑year‑old British actress known for her roles in BBC’s Three Girls, The Jetty, Disney+’s Renegade Nell, and the 2024 vampire comedy The Radleys, brings a mix of dramatic and fantasy experience to the iconic royal role. Ainsworth, who is just 16, is perhaps better known internationally; his credits include The Haunting of Bly Manor, Netflix’s The Sandman, the title voice in Disney’s live‑action Pinocchio, and the CBC comedy Son of a Critch . The youthful ages of the leads suggest the film may draw inspiration from Link’s teenage years in games like Ocarina of Time or Wind Waker
The production is being directed by Wes Ball, known for The Maze Runner series and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, and is produced by Nintendo’s Miyamoto, Avi Arad, and Joe Hartwick Jr. The partnership continues the trend of high-profile game-to-film adaptations following the box office success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
The Legend of Zelda is one of Nintendo’s most iconic and enduring video game franchises, first launched in 1986 with the original game on the Famicom Disk System and NES. Created by Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka, the series follows the heroic Link on quests to rescue Princess Zelda and thwart the evil Ganon, often revolving around the powerful Triforce relic. Blending action, exploration, and puzzle-solving, the franchise helped pioneer nonlinear gameplay and open-world design. Over the decades, Zelda has evolved across numerous platforms, with standout titles like Ocarina of Time (1998), Breath of the Wild (2017), and Tears of the Kingdom (2023), each expanding the series’ narrative depth and gameplay innovation. The franchise has sold over 140 million copies worldwide, cementing its legacy as a cornerstone of gaming history.
As of now, there’s been no word regarding the casting of major characters such as Ganon, Impa, or Zelda’s father, nor whether the script will adapt specific game plots or forge a new narrative within the mythos. Filming is reported to begin later this year, with production scheduled to run into 2026.