Live-action Legend of Zelda movie reveals first look at Zelda and Link 

Nintendo has officially begun filming the live-action Legend of Zelda, the makers announced via a post on X on November 17, 2025. Japanese game designer Shigeru Miyamoto shared the first look of Link and Princess Zelda on Nintendo's official X account, saying, "The filming is progressing smoothly."

In the initial images, the characters stand in a vast, empty field. Although Nintendo hasn’t confirmed if the film will follow a specific video game entry, the landscape in the shots resembles the world from the 2017 version of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Bo Bragason plays Zelda, while Benjamin Evan Ainsworth takes on the role of Link. The movie is set to premiere in theaters on May 7, 2027.

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More about the production of the live-action Legend of Zelda

In July 2025, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth and Bo Bragason were confirmed to lead the live-action Legend of Zelda. So far, Ainsworth has appeared in The Haunting of Bly Manor and Disney’s 2022 Pinocchio remake. Meanwhile, Bragason has starred in Renegade Nell, King & Conqueror, followed by the 2024 film The Radleys.

In the game series, Link is the hero controlled by players, embarking on missions mostly to rescue Hyrule. Meanwhile, Princess Zelda plays a key role in the plot. She teams up with him periodically to fight Ganon’s dark power.

The live-action Legend of Zelda is being directed by Wes Ball, who also helmed the Maze Runner movies, as well as the 2024 film Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Shigeru Miyamoto has teamed up with Avi Arad to oversee production. Ball is collaborating with Joe Hartwick Jr., both managing production through their company, Oddball Entertainment.

T.S. Nowlin handled the latest draft of the script. Previously, Derek Connolly worked on earlier versions. The live-action Legend of Zelda is coming together through a collaboration between Nintendo and Sony Pictures, with Sony handling distribution.

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Live-action Legend of Zelda: Franchise background

NINTENDO ZELDA (Image via Getty)

The live-action Legend of Zelda series started with Shigeru Miyamoto, with Takashi Tezuka playing a key role in shaping it, debuting in 1986. The story follows Link, who looks a bit elven, and Princess Zelda. Together, they work to protect Hyrule from threats, mainly Ganon, who began as a warlord but turned into a monster king across different installments.

Over the years, across various gaming systems, this series has remained one of Nintendo's top franchises, selling more than 150 million units worldwide. Instead of just games, this live-action movie version represents their latest attempt at big-screen storytelling.

The company released The Super Mario Bros. movie in 2023, paving the way for future films. Now, Nintendo is preparing The Super Mario Galaxy movie, set to hit theaters on April 3, 2026, with the same voices returning and new faces, including Brie Larson, alongside Benny Safdie.

The live-action Legend of Zelda will premiere on May 7, 2027, instead of March 26, due to changes in the production schedule. Since filming began, the makers have shared early photos from the set, although story details, additional cast members, or clips have not been released yet.

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Edited by Shreya Das