Zelda and Link are coming to a theater near you. Production is officially underway on Nintendo and Sony’s live-action The Legend of Zelda Movie. Directed by Wes Ball (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, The Maze Runner), this will be a live-action cinematic adaptation of the beloved series of video games. After years of discussion, it’s now on its way to becoming a reality.
According to IGN, filming on The Legend of Zelda movie has somewhat quietly begun in New Zealand. The news was revealed via a listing in the Film & Television Industry Alliance (FTIA). That being the case, we should be learning more sooner rather than later. The project was first announced back in 2023. More recently, it was confirmed that Bo Bragason (Renegade Nell) will play Zelda, with Benjamin Evan Ainsworth (The Haunting of Bly Manor) on board as Link. The movie is set to arrive in summer 2027.
Here is the synopsis for The Legend of Zelda movie.
“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 artifacts that can aid him in his quest.”
Zelda has long been viewed as a great candidate for a movie. Nintendo was in no small part motivated to get the ball rolling thanks to the success of 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie. It went on to make more than $1.3 billion at the global box office. A sequel, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, is due to hit theaters in 2026.
Curiously, Nintendo and Sony opted to go live-action with this project rather than do another animated feature. In recent years, it’s been proven that both can work quite well when it comes to video game movies. The Sonic the Hedgehog movies have broken box office records, generating a huge franchise for Paramount. Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is due out in 2027.
There is plenty of source material for Zelda to draw from. There have been more than 20 games to date, with Ocarina of Time and Breath of the Wild considered among the greatest games ever made. The series, all told, has sold more than 150 million copies worldwide. It ranks amongst the most popular video game series ever.
The Legend of Zelda is set to hit theaters on May 7, 2027.
What do you think? Are you excited for the movie? Would you have preferred an animated Zelda project? Join in on the conversation over on Facebook or Twitter!
