British actors Bo Bragason (21) and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth (16) will bring Princess Zelda and Link to life in a serious yet whimsical adaptation directed by Wes Ball.
Nintendo Casts Lead Roles for Upcoming Legend of Zelda Live-Action Film
Nintendo has officially announced the lead cast for its highly anticipated live-action adaptation of The Legend of Zelda. Two young British actors have been tapped for the iconic roles: Renegade Nell star Bo Bragason, 21, will portray Princess Zelda, while Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, 16 — known for Disney’s Pinocchio — will play the courageous hero Link.
The casting was revealed on X by Shigeru Miyamoto, co-creator of the franchise, who expressed his excitement, saying he was “very much looking forward to seeing both of them on the big screen.”
This marks the first live-action film based on the Zelda franchise, which previously had an animated series in 1989. Bragason’s credits include Three Girls, The Jetty, and the horror films Censor and The Radleys. Ainsworth is known for roles in The Haunting of Bly Manor, All Fun and Games, and Everything's Going to Be Great, alongside Sex Education star Asa Butterfield.
Scheduled for a May 2027 release, the film will be directed by Wes Ball (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, The Maze Runner), who has promised a “serious but whimsical” take on the beloved game. The story will follow Princess Zelda and Link as they battle to save the kingdom of Hyrule from the dark forces of Ganon.
While Link has traditionally been a silent protagonist in the games, fans are speculating that the film may give him a voice. Likewise, Zelda is expected to have a much more prominent role in the narrative than in past game installments.
The project was first announced in 2023 as a co-financed effort between Nintendo and Sony Pictures. The screenplay, initially written by Jurassic World’s Derek Connolly, is now being revised by Ball’s frequent collaborator, TS Nowlin.
With over 150 million copies sold since its debut in 1986, The Legend of Zelda remains one of Nintendo’s most iconic and enduring franchises.
A Legendary Legacy and a New Era for Game-to-Film Adaptations
The Legend of Zelda franchise, created by Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka, first launched in 1986. Since then, it has grown into one of Nintendo’s most iconic and successful brands, selling over 150 million copies across numerous installments and console generations.
While video game adaptations have traditionally received mixed responses—titles like Resident Evil, Tomb Raider, and Mortal Kombat often fell short of fan expectations—recent successes have begun to shift the narrative. Blockbusters such as The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Sonic the Hedgehog, Uncharted, Minecraft, and the acclaimed HBO series The Last of Us have demonstrated that compelling, faithful game-to-screen stories can win over audiences.
The upcoming Legend of Zelda film is being produced by Miyamoto and Avi Arad, the former CEO of Marvel Studios. It is scheduled to debut on May 7, 2027—a date that was initially reserved for Avengers: Secret Wars before it was pushed to December.