Nintendo announces cast for long-awaited live-action Legend of Zelda movie

The long-anticipated Legend of Zelda live-action film finally has its stars. Nintendo has officially revealed who will wield the Master Sword and bear the Triforce of Wisdom, and the internet has thoughts. On Thursday morning, July 11, 2025, Shigeru Miyamoto himself made the announcement fans have been waiting for.Nintendo broke the news via social media, confirming that Bo Bragason will portray Princess Zelda and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth will step into the iconic green tunic as Link. Both are young, rising talents. Bragason is 21, and Ainsworth is just 16, and their casting immediately sparked debates, memes, and fan theories across every corner of the gaming world.Miyamoto, co-producing the film with Spider-Man producer Avi Arad, kept things simple but personal in the announcement. “I am very much looking forward to seeing both of them on the big screen,” he said.With the film’s release now slated for May 7, 2027, the reveal gives fans their first major update since the project’s initial announcement in 2023.The official image released alongside the announcement shows the pair in costumes that hint at their in-game inspirations. Bragason wears a deep blue dress, subtly evoking Zelda’s look from Breath of the Wild. Ainsworth, meanwhile, sports a dark green tunic.Though some fans were expecting older or more established actors, the decision to cast fresh faces has divided the fanbase. Supporters say the youthful casting brings energy and room for growth across a potential trilogy. Others worry about whether Ainsworth, at 16, can carry the weight of such an iconic role.While some fans were expecting A-list fantasy veterans, the casting leans young and fresh. Bo Bragason, 21, has recently made waves with her performances in Renegade Nell on Netflix and BBC’s The Jetty. Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, only 16, previously appeared in The Haunting of Bly Manor and has a resume filled with quiet intensity.The Legend of Zelda movie is being directed by Wes Ball (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes), with a script by Derek Connolly and production backing from Avi Arad and Miyamoto himself. Sony Pictures will handle distribution.With two fresh stars ready to redefine Link and Zelda for a new generation, Nintendo’s live-action gamble is finally starting to feel real. The trailer is still months away, but fans are already dissecting every detail of the casting photo.