New Actors in Live-Action Zelda May Stick Around

Nintendo has announced the main actors for its live-action film Legend of Zelda. The roles of Zelda and Link will be played by young and lesser-known actors: Bo Bragason and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, respectively. Although they are not widely recognized yet, they are likely to become the face of the franchise for many years to come. The choice of young actors, teenage Ainsworth and young adult Bragason, makes perfect sense — in the video games, even the "older" Link and Zelda are usually portrayed as young. This allows them to grow into their roles and potentially appear in sequels, aligning with Nintendo's strategy to expand franchises beyond gaming.

Nintendo has already proven its ability for successful adaptations — the film Super Mario Bros. grossed over a billion dollars and will receive a sequel in 2026. A spin-off about Donkey Kong is also being considered. These franchises are represented in Nintendo's theme parks, suggesting a similar strategy for Legend of Zelda. The Zelda film has every chance of becoming a major hit. The series is currently very popular: Breath of the Wild was the fourth best-selling game on the original Switch, while Tears of the Kingdom is a fantastic sequel. If the first film is even half as successful, Bragason and Ainsworth could become the faces of Zelda and Link for an entire generation of fans.

Both actors have some experience: Ainsworth voiced Pinocchio in Disney's 2022 film and played a significant role in the Netflix series The Haunting of Bly Manor. However, for Nintendo, it is a risk to trust the adaptation to young acting talents. The film is directed by Wes Ball, known for his work on the Maze Runner trilogy and the film Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.

Nintendo is employing a proven strategy: Warner Bros. recruited young actors for the Harry Potter series, who will become the faces of the new HBO series for the coming years, while Netflix retained the same actors from Stranger Things throughout the series, which started nearly 10 years ago. The Legend of Zelda film could become the next major cultural phenomenon for Nintendo. The premiere is scheduled for May 2027, and if all goes well, we will see new adventures of Zelda and Link.