After years in development, The Legend of Zelda is finally being adapted into a feature film, courtesy of Sony Pictures, Columbia Pictures, Arad Productions, Oddball Entertainment and Nintendo.
With the popularity of the animated Super Mario Bros. film franchise likely paving the way for future adaptations of all kinds, Nintendo is now branching out, inviting new audiences to experience its most popular games in new ways.
What’s most interesting about the Legend of Zelda film, currently in development for a 2027 release, is that it’s the first live-action Nintendo adaptation in a long time. In fact, it’s only preceded by a handful of films, including the so-bad-it’s-good 1993 Super Mario Bros. film starring Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo.
Sony’s The Legend of Zelda doesn’t have to do much to be considered ‘better’ than this film, thankfully – but with the weight of fan expectations, there’s plenty of curiosity about what’s in store, and how it’ll do justice to the beloved, long-running game franchise.
Here’s everything we know about the film so far, and how it will attempt to explore Legend of Zelda canon.
The Legend of Zelda film adaptation – quick links
The Legend of Zelda: release date and distribution plans
Sony’s The Legend of Zelda is set to release in US theatres on 7 May 2027.
We expect a global release will circle this date.
What’s the plot of the Legend of Zelda film?
So far, an official plot hasn’t been confirmed for the Legend of Zelda film, although a description posted to film and TV tracking service Production List may provide some hints. Take this description with a grain of salt, as it may not be legitimate, and in the era of AI saturation, we should always be wary:
‘The Legend of Zelda follows Link, a young warrior destined to protect the magical kingdom of Hyrule from the forces of darkness. The land is under threat from Ganon, a ruthless warlord who seeks the Triforce – an ancient relic said to grant limitless power. To stop him, Link must embark on a perilous journey, battling monstrous creatures, exploring treacherous dungeons, and solving intricate puzzles to uncover sacred artefacts that can aid him in his quest.’
Should this description legitimately relate to the film adaptation, it’s worth noting it really doesn’t give all that much away. It’s vague enough to relate to nearly every game in the Legend of Zelda franchise, with most series entries following this plot loosely anyway.
The Triforce appears in most games, as a magical device that Link must obtain. Ganon is the primary antagonist in most of the games, too. What might be more useful is actually discussing early shots revealing character wardrobe to learn more – but we’ll get to that.
The Legend of Zelda: full cast list
So far, just two names have been officially announced as part of the live-action cast for The Legend of Zelda. Benjamin Evan Ainsworth has been cast as Link, the hero of the story, and Bo Bragason is playing the titular Princess Zelda.
Ainsworth is most-known for starring in The Haunting of Bly Manor as Miles Wingrave. He also appeared as the titular character in Pinocchio, and appeared in The Sandman and Son of a Critch.
Bo Bragason has appeared in a range of film and TV shows, including The Radleys, Renegade Nell, The Jetty, and King & Conqueror. Notably, she has some experience in the world of video games, having been the motion capture actor for Young Luna in Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV.
In addition to these two names, recent shots of filming have also suggested Australian actress Dichen Lachman (Being Human, Dollhouse) has been cast in the film, possibly as Zelda’s advisor Impa – but this remains unconfirmed.
We expect more names will be added to the cast in future.
Which games have inspired the Legend of Zelda film?
At this stage, it remains unclear which games have inspired the Legend of Zelda film, but we can look to the costuming of Link and Zelda, revealed in early official images, for some clues.
While Link’s costume looks fairly standard, with a green-and-gold tunic that closely resembles that worn in nearly every Legend of Zelda game, there are still some assumptions we can make. With a darker green shade to the tunic, and the addition of belt buckles and a sword holster, his look appears to homage Twilight Princess.
There is a natural grittiness that must come with live action adaptations, so we were never going to see Link with a bright green and neon-sleeve tunic. But the palette here does seem to reference this particular game. Ainsworth’s age is also a clue that the film will focus on more mature, later adventures, rather than those starring Young Link (Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask).
Zelda’s look is particularly intriguing, as she wears a blue dress-tunic that’s more akin to Zelda’s look in modern games Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. Here, Zelda is presented in a more practical outfit for adventuring, rather than in her usual regal dress attire.
There is a suggestion that both Twilight Princess and the BotW/TotK era will inspire this adaptation of The Legend of Zelda, although the extent of this influence remains unclear.
Do you need to play any games before watching the Legend of Zelda film?
Looking to the recent Super Mario Bros. films for example, it feels unlikely that Sony’s The Legend of Zelda will lean too heavily into franchise lore. The reality is the vast majority of audiences who may be keen to see the film won’t have played the games. It needs to be approachable for everyone.
There will more than likely be sly nods and easter eggs for those in the know – there are certainly plenty of those in the Mario films – but this does appear to be a fresh take on the franchise, complete with new ideas about plot, lore and aesthetics.
What else we know about the Legend of Zelda film
Beyond these key details, and its initial announcement, Sony Pictures and Nintendo have stayed relatively quiet about The Legend of Zelda so far. Given the fervour around the upcoming film, and plenty of questions about what’s to come, that certainly makes sense.
For now we’ve got just scraps of information to go off, as well as some minor, unconfirmed leaks.
As mentioned, there are rumours that Dichen Lachman has joined the cast, courtesy of folks filming near the set in New Zealand. It’s worth noting the film is reportedly using similar locations to those seen in The Lord of the Rings, which should give an idea about its scope and ambitions.
Recently, we also did get another unverified look at Link (thanks Vooks!) complete with his green cap, sword and shield. This image in particular has excited many, as it seems so faithful to the game franchise, and its source does appear to be legitimate.
We’re likely to get a few more tidbits in the coming months as production work continues, but for anything official, it’s best to stay patient and look forward to the film’s release in 2027.
