It’s official:Nintendohas cast both Link and Zelda for its upcoming live-action film adaptationof the iconic adventure.The Legend of Zeldais set to arrive in cinemas on Jul 29, 2025 and this is the first real slice of news we’ve learned about it since it was announced.
TheSuper Mario Bros. filmhas been and gone, attracting lukewarm reviews yet making over a billion dollars at the global box office while seemingly laying the foundation for an animated franchise, withDonkey Kongreportedly set to follow in the plumber’s hugely successful footsteps.
Nintendo is clearly serious about expanding into the world of cinema, but animated films and live-action adaptations are twoverydifferent things, meaning The Legend of Zelda has much more to prove when it eventually rolls around. But if it nails the casting, that’s half the battle, so let’s get into it.
Who Is Playing Link And Zelda In The Live Action Film?
Writing onTwitterearlier today, Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto confirmed the news via Nintendo’s official account: “This is Miyamoto,” wrote Miyamoto, as only he could. “I am pleased to announce that for the live-action film of The Legend of Zelda, Zelda will be played by Bo Bragason-san, and Link by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth-san. I am very much looking forward to seeing both of them on the big screen.”
Miyamoto’s speech on social media is always so charming, with the casting news partnered with a new image which may or may not represent the film’s take on these iconic characters.
Benjamin Evan Ainsworth will step into the shoes of Link, known for his role as Pinocchio in the recent live-action remake as well as appearing in The Haunting of Bly Manor, and even a few episodes of British soap opera Emmerdale. At the age of 16, they will likely portray a version of Link on the cusp of adulthood as they find themselves thrown into a sprawling adventure that involves Zelda, Ganon, and travelling across the Kingdom of Hyrule.
Speaking of Zelda, the Princess will be brought to life by Bo Bragason of Renegade Nell and Three Girls fame. They’re a few years older than Ainsworth at 21, meaning we could witness a similar setup to Ocarina in which Link and Zelda are of similar age, but distant enough for their life experiences and upbringing to be vastly different.
While Hunter Schafer is the spitting image of Princess Zelda, I’m honestly relieved the film is casting relatively unknown actors instead of going after raw star power.
The film is also yet to enter full production ahead of its 2027 release, so I won’t be surprised if things shift and change before then. Also, who is going to play the likes of Ganondorf?
What Do These Casting Choices Tell Us About The Zelda Film?
As relative unknowns, these casting choices don’t tell us a huge amount, and I have to imagine Nintendo will keep cards close to its chest until it’s ready to reveal more details, footage, or imagery about the upcoming film. However, we do know that Sony Pictures has agreed to co-finance and distribute the film with Nintendo, and comic book veteran Avi Arad is reportedly set to produce alongside Miyamoto. When it comes to who will be sitting in the director’s chat, Wes Ball (The Maze Runner, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes)is still penciled in to helm the project.
That’s some decent talent for an adaptation like this that will hopefully keep it safe from thevideo game curse. The Legend of Zelda is such a sacred property that I once considered it impossible to adapt to live action, so when that decision was made instead of an animated film, I was terrified. With this recent news, however, I’m willing to give it a chance.
As for the casting itself, and the fact that both of these actors are very British, my money is on the film being a pretty direct adaptation - or at least an interpretation - of Ocarina of Time. It feels like the classic Zelda tale of good and evil where both Link and Zelda are featured in narratively important roles. Not to mention, this provides the film with an opportunity to have both characters starting in very distinct places.
Link will be a child of the forest, awakening in Kokiri Forest before having to prove himself to the Deku Tree and embarking on a grand adventure. He’s an outsider unaware of a much larger destiny that awaits him, which feels like the perfect precursor to a hero’s journey we’ll want to see explored in a film like this. I’m unsure how they’ll handle the time skip or whether it will be avoided altogether, but in terms of tone, setting, and intention this feels like the right move.
As for Zelda, she has to command a kingdom despite being so young and unaware of the power that sits in her hands, all before Ganondorf comes along and throws the kingdom into chaos. The Super Mario Bros. film wasvery simplein its plotting, and with Nintendo and Sony eager to introduce this property to both new and existing audiences, it will strive to do the same. We could be treated to easter eggs and characters from across the series’ history, but otherwise, I don’t expect the Zelda film to take a huge amount of risks.
There are still so many questions to be answered about The Legend of Zelda film, but now the actors behind Link and Zelda have been revealed, we can finally start piecing them together. I might be horrendously off the mark when it comes to my predictions about it being a faithful homage to Ocarina of Time feels like the ideal way to distil everything that makes this series so wonderful, while also telling a compelling story that appeals to fans and newcomers alike.
With any luck, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth and Bo Bragason will knock it out of the park.
