Over the weekend, videos of The Legend of Zelda’s New Zealand set were posted online. Low-resolution footage showed actors sliding into costume while they went about their business in the midst of a lush forest, with horses dressed in what appeared to be Hylian armor, which was a very fantastic touch. Fans spotted Bo Bragason preparing her bow as Princess Zelda, while Benjamin Evan Ainsworth was getting into character as Link. Early this morning, the Nintendo Today app was filled with crisp, high-resolution photographs directly from Shigeru Miyamoto.
Miyamoto’s statement is to the point: “Filming is beginning for our live-action Zelda film out in the wilds, with Bo Bragason and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth on board as our stars. “We plan to release on May 7th, 2027. It’ll be a while before that happens, so we’d prefer it if people could hold off on speculating and instead look forward to the film.”
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Bo Bragason takes on the character of Zelda with quiet authority. The 21-year-old English actor isn’t new to the scene; she debuted in “Three Girls” on BBC and “Renegade Nell” on Disney+. Her Zelda is an instant classic, a straight-up warrior princess with her bow at the ready, indicating that she is in this fight from the start alongside Link. Her blue tunic really brings the colors of the Champions to life, as if she’s right there in Hyrule, leading the charge in the face of tragedy, as shown in “Breath of the Wild.”
Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, 16, lends young vitality to Link. He has done voice work for Disney’s Pinocchio and stage productions, embodying the hero’s classic silence. His green tunic is from the Twilight Princess or Ocarina of Time eras, a tribute to the past, although Zelda’s appearance is modern. There is no Master Sword yet, therefore the classic journey is still to come.
Wes Ball (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes) is directing, and he worked with Miyamoto and Avi Arad on the production and storyline, which were written by Derek Connolly of Detective Pikachu fame. New Zealand is doubling as Hyrule, with filming scheduled until April 2026. According to sources, a third figure with silver hair and armor stood beside a horse, presumably Dichen Lachman as Impa.
Filming is now underway, with principal photography set in New Zealand’s wilderness. Sony is distributing internationally, building on the success of the Super Mario Bros. Movie. A Galaxy sequel is expected in 2026, but Zelda is targeting May 7, 2027.
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