After months of casting rumours and fan wishlists, Nintendo and Sony have officially named the stars set to wield the Master Sword and rule Hyrule.

The upcoming live-action adaptation of The Legend of Zelda has found its Link and Zelda in rising talents Benjamin Evan Ainsworth and Bo Bragason.

The announcement arrived courtesy of Nintendo legend Shigeru Miyamoto, who took to X with the reveal. “This is Miyamoto,” he wrote via the official Nintendo account. “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 message was accompanied by a photo (above) showing the pair in what appears to be early costume — Bragason in a blue gown reminiscent of Breath of the Wild Zelda, and Ainsworth donning a familiar forest-green tunic.

Newcomers Take the Lead

While neither name may ring out like a Triforce chime just yet, both actors bring some notable experience to the table. Bo Bragason, seen in Renegade Nell and Censor, also has roles in The Radleys and the upcoming Prime Video YA series Sterling Point. Ainsworth, meanwhile, is perhaps best known for playing Miles in Netflix’s The Haunting of Bly Manor and voicing the title character in Disney’s Pinocchio remake.

The casting puts an end to months of speculation that saw fan campaigns and social media debates about who should take up the iconic roles. Euphoria star Hunter Schafer had been a popular fan choice for Zelda, while The Black Phone and live-action How to Train Your Dragon star actor Mason Thames was reportedly in contention for Link.

What We Know About the Film So Far

Details on the story remain tightly locked away in Hyrule Castle, but some key names behind the camera have long been confirmed. The film is being directed by Wes Ball (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Maze Runner trilogy), with Miyamoto and former Marvel Studios head Avi Arad on board as producers. The latest script draft was penned by T.S. Nowlin (The Maze Runner).

Speaking previously about the project, Ball shared his vision for the film’s tone and feel, making it clear he’s aiming well beyond a typical game-to-film adaptation. “I’ve been thinking about it for a long freakin’ time, of how cool a Zelda movie would be,” Ball told Total Film in an interview published March 2024. “I want to fulfil people’s greatest desires. I know it’s important, this [Zelda] franchise, to people and I want it to be a serious movie. A real movie that can give people an escape.”

Ball emphasised his desire to create a world viewers would truly want to step into: “I want to live in that world,” he said, describing that escapism as one of the project’s key driving forces. As for the film’s tone, he noted, “That’s the thing I want to try to create – it’s got to feel like something real. Something serious and cool, but fun and whimsical.”

The approach signals a departure from the mo-cap-heavy aesthetic of Ball’s recent Planet of the Apes entry, with the director instead favouring a grounded fantasy world that, if all goes to plan, can stand on its own as a cinematic universe.

The U.S. release has been set for May 7, 2027, a date that puts it up against the spring blockbuster season — though it’s since avoided the once-crowded weekend that would’ve included Avengers: Secret Wars, now pushed to December that year.

With two relatively fresh faces and a high-stakes adaptation of one of gaming’s most beloved franchises, all eyes will be on how this one shapes up. And yes — the Ganon casting rumours start now.

A Legendary Legacy

The Legend of Zelda is one of Nintendo’s most iconic and influential franchises—right up there with Super Mario and Pokémon. First released in 1986, the game series was created by Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka and has since spawned over 20 core entries, countless spin-offs, and more than a few late-night fan theories.

The games follow different incarnations of Link, a brave, elf-eared warrior, and Princess Zelda, a royal descended from the goddess Hylia. Their recurring quest? To save the fantastical land of Hyrule from Ganon, a power-hungry warlord-turned-demon king with his eyes on the Triforce — a sacred relic said to grant ultimate power, but only to those whose hearts balance Power, Wisdom, and Courage.

While Ganon tends to be the series’ central threat, not every Zelda game sticks to the same formula. Some instalments send Link off to distant lands, alternate timelines, or even trapped inside dreams. And though the characters may shift slightly from game to game, Link’s green tunic and sword-swinging heroism remain a constant — as does Zelda’s role as the wise and often underestimated force behind the kingdom.

The franchise has sold over 150 million units worldwide and regularly appears on “greatest games of all time” lists. It’s also seen life beyond the console, including a 1989 animated TV series and decades of manga adaptations. For many, Zelda isn’t just a game — it’s a cornerstone of gaming history. Now, it’s heading to the big screen.