Danica Davidson
July 16, 2025 
The main actors for the 2027 live-action Legend of Zelda film have been revealed, along with what appear to be pictures of them in character! Two British actors have snagged the leads: Bo Bragason will play Zelda and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth will play link.
Legend of Zelda co-creator Shigeru Miyamoto shared the news on behalf of Nintendo, with X (formerly Twitter) posts coming out in both Japanese and English:
This is Miyamoto. 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. The film is scheduled to be released in theaters on May 7, 2027. Thank you for your patience.
Miyamoto makes mention of the release date because previously we were told to expect the movie in March 2027. “Production reasons” were given as the explanation for the delayed release.
The movie is being directed by Wes Ball, who sat in the director’s seat for Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes and The Maze Runner.
Bragason’s credits include Three Girls and The Jetty (both BBC shows), plus Renegade Nell on Disney +.
Meanwhile, Ainsworth’s credits include voicing Pinocchio in the live-action Pinocchio directed by Robert Zemeckis, and he is also known for being on the Netflix show The Haunting of Bly Manor.
Miyamoto had previously stated that he thought a Caucasian actor would be good for Link, and Wind Waker producer Takashi Tezuka floated the idea of having a woman play Link. (Link would still be a male character, but this would be like how it can be common in anime for woman to voice male characters.) It looks like Tezuka’s idea didn’t take shape, and also that Miyamoto is pleased with the casting so far.
Miyamoto is co-producing The Legend of Zelda movie, alongside Avi Arad.
Source: Variety
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Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling Manga Art for Beginners with artist Melanie Westin, plus its sequel, Manga Art for Everyone, and the first-of-its-kind manga chalk book Chalk Art Manga, both illustrated by professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.
