Legend of Zelda News

Bo Bragason is still keeping Nintendo’s secrets, but the actress behind Princess Zelda has shared a little more about what it was like stepping into Hyrule for the upcoming live-action The Legend of Zelda movie.

In a new interview with i-D, Bragason reflected on the months she spent in New Zealand filming the highly anticipated adaptation. While she understandably stopped well short of revealing anything about the story, her comments give us another glimpse at just how large-scale the production appears to have been.

For Bragason, one of the things that stood out most wasn’t a costume, a set, or even the pressure of playing one of Nintendo’s most recognizable characters. It was New Zealand itself.

The 22-year-old actress described the country as feeling almost like another world, saying its natural scenery could be difficult to fully process while she was there. Bragason recalled taking lunch breaks on location and looking up to find enormous mountains towering over the production.

At times, she had to remind herself that what she was looking at was actually real.

“I can’t wait for people to see it,” Bragason told i-D.

New Zealand Could Be a Perfect Stand-In for Hyrule

For Zelda fans, those comments are especially interesting.

Nintendo and Sony filmed The Legend of Zelda extensively in New Zealand, a country already famous for providing the sweeping fantasy landscapes of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings films. Principal photography wrapped in April 2026 after several months of production.

Exactly how much of the finished movie will rely on real landscapes rather than constructed environments or visual effects remains to be seen, but Bragason’s comments certainly suggest the production made good use of its surroundings.

That could prove to be an excellent fit for The Legend of Zelda. From the rolling fields of Hyrule to towering mountains, forests, lakes, and ruined kingdoms, exploring a vast natural world has been at the center of the series for decades. That sense of scale became particularly important in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.

It is still far too early to say whether the film will visually resemble either of those games, but hearing Bragason talk about being overwhelmed by the scenery is encouraging for anyone hoping to see a believable Hyrule on the big screen.

Bragason Is Getting Used to Dodging Zelda Questions

The actress also acknowledged one of the stranger parts of becoming Princess Zelda: being interviewed about a movie she is largely forbidden from discussing.

Plot details surrounding the adaptation remain closely guarded, leaving Bragason to find increasingly creative ways of talking about the experience without revealing anything Nintendo would rather keep secret.

That secrecy has surrounded the project from the beginning.

Nintendo officially revealed Bragason as Princess Zelda in July 2025, alongside Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link. The first official images of the pair in costume followed in November, giving fans their first proper look at the movie’s versions of the legendary Hylian hero and princess.

Since then, information has arrived slowly, although additional casting details have begun surfacing as the movie moves deeper into post-production.

Who Is Bo Bragason?

By the time audiences see her wearing Zelda’s pointed ears, Bragason will already have built up a surprisingly varied résumé.

Her previous television work includes Disney+ fantasy series Renegade Nell, BBC drama The Jetty, and historical series King & Conqueror. More recently, she appears as Oona in Sterling Point, the Prime Video young-adult series that forms much of the focus of her new i-D interview.

Still, The Legend of Zelda represents a completely different level of visibility.

Playing Zelda places Bragason at the center of Nintendo and Sony’s attempt to bring one of gaming’s most celebrated franchises to live action for the first time. She’ll star opposite Ainsworth’s Link under director Wes Ball, whose recent credits include Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.

When Does The Legend of Zelda Movie Come Out?

The live-action The Legend of Zelda movie is currently scheduled to arrive in theaters on April 30, 2027. The date was moved forward one week from its previously announced May 7 release.

With filming finished and post-production underway, Nintendo has plenty of time left to keep Hyrule hidden from us.

Bragason apparently feels the same anticipation as everyone else. She may not be allowed to tell us what she saw while wearing Zelda’s ears in New Zealand, but judging by her reaction to the landscapes alone, there should be quite a bit for fans to look forward to seeing on the big screen.

And considering how carefully Nintendo has guarded this project so far, we’ll be watching closely for the moment the gates to Hyrule finally open.

Another major name may have quietly joined the cast of The Legend of Zelda movie, and this time the rumored role could tell us quite a bit about the story Nintendo and Sony are putting together.

Samara Weaving has reportedly been cast in the upcoming live-action adaptation, with a newer report claiming the Ready or Not star will portray Hylia, the goddess whose history sits at the very heart of Zelda lore.

Neither Nintendo nor Sony Pictures has officially announced Weaving’s involvement, so her casting and character should still be considered unconfirmed.

Samara Weaving Could Be Playing Hylia

Initial reports on August 10 claimed Weaving had joined the movie but stopped short of identifying her character. TechTimes noted that neither Nintendo nor Sony had confirmed her involvement and that no role had been revealed at the time.

That changed with subsequent reports.

Industry insider Daniel Richtman, better known as DanielRPK, is now being cited as the source of a claim that Weaving will specifically portray the Goddess Hylia. Multiple outlets have since picked up the report, although there has still been no official confirmation from Nintendo or Sony.

If accurate, Hylia is a fascinating choice.

Rather than simply adding another recognizable character to the cast, introducing Hylia would bring one of the most important pieces of Zelda mythology directly into the movie.

Who Is Hylia?

Hylia’s importance to the series was greatly expanded in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword.

In the ancient history presented by that game, Hylia is entrusted with protecting the Triforce and the people of the surface world. Her conflict with the Demon King Demise ultimately sets events in motion that become fundamental to the recurring struggle between Zelda, Link and the forces threatening Hyrule.

Hylia’s influence continued well beyond Skyward Sword. Statues dedicated to the goddess appear throughout Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, where Link can pray to them in exchange for upgrades to his Heart Containers and Stamina Vessels.

Having Hylia physically appear in the movie could therefore be much more significant than a cameo.

It may suggest that director Wes Ball’s adaptation plans to establish some of Hyrule’s mythology from the beginning rather than dropping audiences into a world where Link, Zelda, Ganon and the Triforce simply exist without much explanation.

Exactly how Hylia would fit into the story remains unknown.

Zelda’s Movie Cast Is Getting Much Bigger

Weaving’s reported involvement arrives during a remarkable stretch of casting news surrounding the movie.

Nintendo officially revealed Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link and Bo Bragason as Princess Zelda in 2025, but much of the supporting cast remained a mystery even after filming wrapped.

That secrecy has started to break down.

Recent reports have connected Uli Latukefu with Ganondorf, while Dichen Lachman is reportedly playing Impa. Yvonne Strahovski and Lydia Peckham have also been linked to the production, with Strahovski reportedly portraying a queen character.

Then came the surprising news that the late Sam Neill had completed work on the Zelda movie before his death.

Deadline reported that Neill filmed a role in the production prior to his passing, making The Legend of Zelda one of his final screen appearances. His character has not been revealed.

That gives the film a potentially substantial ensemble surrounding its two young leads.

What Could Hylia Tell Us About the Movie?

This is where things get particularly interesting for longtime Zelda fans.

Nintendo has never said that the live-action movie will directly adapt Ocarina of Time, Skyward Sword, Breath of the Wild or any other individual game. Everything we’ve seen so far leaves open the possibility that the filmmakers are building a new version of Hyrule using characters, imagery and ideas pulled from across the franchise.

Hylia would fit that approach extremely well.

Her presence doesn’t necessarily mean the movie is adapting Skyward Sword. The goddess has become part of the wider mythology of modern Zelda games, particularly following her prominence in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.

It could also give the filmmakers a relatively straightforward way to explain the larger cycle surrounding Hyrule.

If the movie intends to establish why Link and Zelda are connected to an ancient struggle against evil, Hylia could provide that mythology without requiring the film to reproduce the plot of any one game.

Of course, that’s speculation until we know more about the screenplay.

Weaving Is No Stranger to Genre Movies

Weaving has built an especially strong following among horror and genre fans.

She starred as Grace in 2019’s Ready or Not and returned for Ready or Not 2: Here I Come in 2026. Her credits also include The Babysitter, Scream VI, Guns Akimbo, Azrael, Snake Eyes and Bill & Ted Face the Music.

The Zelda report also comes during a particularly busy period for the actress. Weaving has recently been linked to another enormous franchise through the role of Emma Frost in Marvel’s upcoming X-Men project.

Going from Grace to Emma Frost and potentially the Goddess Hylia makes for quite a run.

Nintendo Still Isn’t Saying Much

For all of the casting information that has emerged recently, Nintendo continues to keep the movie remarkably close to its chest.

We know Wes Ball is directing, with Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto and Avi Arad producing. Filming took place in New Zealand and principal photography wrapped earlier this year.

Yet many of the actors apparently involved in the movie still haven’t been formally introduced by Nintendo.

That distinction is important here. Reports that Weaving is playing Hylia are increasingly widespread, but Nintendo and Sony have not confirmed either her casting or the role. Until they do, Hylia belongs firmly in the rumor column.

Still, the pieces beginning to emerge make this adaptation considerably more intriguing than it was even a week ago.

If Weaving really is Hylia, Nintendo isn’t just filling out the population of Hyrule. It may be reaching much deeper into Zelda’s mythology than we previously realized.

The Legend of Zelda live-action movie is currently scheduled to arrive in theaters on April 30, 2027.

Nintendo has spent most of the past year keeping the supporting cast of its live-action The Legend of Zelda movie surprisingly quiet. Now, with filming already complete, some of those secrets are finally starting to come out.

Deadline reports that the late Sam Neill filmed an undisclosed role in the movie before his death, while Severance actress Dichen Lachman and The Handmaid’s Tale star Yvonne Strahovski are also part of the cast. The report arrived the same day Deadline revealed that Uli Latukefu is set to play Ganondorf.

For a movie that officially had little more than Link and Zelda attached to its cast for months, Hyrule suddenly feels quite a bit more populated.

Sam Neill Filmed a Mystery Zelda Role Before His Death

The biggest surprise is undoubtedly Sam Neill.

Deadline reports that Neill completed work on The Legend of Zelda before the production wrapped earlier this year. His character has not been revealed, and at the moment there does not appear to be any reliable information pointing toward who he played.

Neill died on July 13, 2026 at the age of 78. The New Zealand actor leaves behind a career spanning decades, with roles in films including Jurassic Park, The Piano, Hunt for the Wilderpeople and The Hunt for Red October. His appearance in The Legend of Zelda will now be among his final screen performances.

Calling Zelda definitively his “final role” may be a little premature. Neill also completed other projects that have yet to be released, including Godzilla x Kong: Supernova and The Last Resort. Deadline itself describes Zelda as one of his final performances, potentially the last depending on how those projects ultimately reach audiences.

There is also something fitting about Neill appearing in the film considering much of The Legend of Zelda was shot in New Zealand, the country he called home for much of his life.

As for his character, Nintendo is keeping that particular treasure chest locked for now.

Dichen Lachman Is Reportedly Playing Impa

The Dichen Lachman news is less of a surprise, but it does appear to settle one of the biggest mysteries created by last year’s leaked set footage.

According to Deadline, Lachman is playing Impa, Princess Zelda’s longtime protector and advisor.

Back in November 2025, footage recorded near the New Zealand production showed Bo Bragason’s Zelda interacting with another woman on horseback. Fans quickly identified the actress as Lachman and theorized that she was playing Impa.

We covered that footage at Zelda Central at the time, although there was no official confirmation of either Lachman’s involvement or the character she was portraying. Deadline’s new report makes those early guesses look remarkably accurate.

Lachman should also be familiar to viewers of Severance, where she plays Ms. Casey. Her credits include Altered Carbon, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Jurassic World Dominion and, interestingly enough, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. That last film was directed by Zelda director Wes Ball, making this a reunion between the two.

Impa has taken dramatically different forms throughout the Zelda series, from the fierce Sheikah warrior of Ocarina of Time to the elderly village leader seen in Breath of the Wild. Nothing currently indicates that the movie is adapting one specific incarnation.

Yvonne Strahovski Is Playing a Queen, But Which One?

Yvonne Strahovski’s casting may raise even more questions.

Deadline could not identify her exact character, but sources told the outlet that she is playing a queen.

And that wording is going to keep Zelda fans busy for a while.

The obvious possibility is the Queen of Hyrule, potentially Princess Zelda’s mother. Zelda’s mother has been referenced within the games, most notably in Breath of the Wild, but the movie would have considerable freedom to develop the character in a way the games never have.

There are other possibilities. Tears of the Kingdom introduced Queen Sonia, for example, and there is nothing stopping the movie from creating its own royal character or borrowing pieces from several eras of Zelda history.

For now, though, anything beyond “queen” is speculation.

Strahovski is best known for playing Sarah Walker on Chuck and Serena Joy Waterford in The Handmaid’s Tale, along with major roles in Dexter and 24: Live Another Day.

The Zelda Movie Cast Is Finally Taking Shape

The latest reports dramatically expand what we know about the movie’s cast.

Benjamin Evan Ainsworth is playing Link, with Bo Bragason starring opposite him as Princess Zelda. Deadline has now reported Uli Latukefu as Ganondorf, Lachman as Impa, Strahovski as an unidentified queen, and Neill in a still-secret role.

That is quite a jump from where things stood only a short time ago.

Nintendo and Sony still haven’t revealed the movie’s story, and that may be the biggest mystery remaining. The costumes and locations seen during production have pulled from recognizable Zelda imagery without clearly pointing toward a direct adaptation of any single game. That could mean Wes Ball and Nintendo are building a new version of Hyrule using characters, designs and ideas from across the series rather than retelling Ocarina of Time, Breath of the Wild or another existing adventure.

Nintendo originally announced the live-action project in 2023. Wes Ball is directing, with Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto and Avi Arad among the producers. Sony Pictures is handling worldwide theatrical distribution.

Production wrapped in New Zealand earlier this year.

The Legend of Zelda is currently scheduled to arrive in theaters worldwide on April 30, 2027, after Nintendo moved the film forward one week from its previous May 7 release date.

And with Ganondorf, Impa, a mystery queen and now Sam Neill entering the picture, there are suddenly a lot more pieces of this particular Triforce falling into place.

Anyone curious about Nintendo’s choice for Link now has another performance to study.

Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, who will play Hyrule’s hero in the upcoming live-action Legend of Zelda movie, received his most substantial introduction yet in House of the Dragon Season 3, Episode 4. Ainsworth plays Daeron Targaryen, the youngest son of Alicent Hightower and a potential new contender in the increasingly bloody fight for the Iron Throne.

Spoiler warning: The following article discusses events from House of the Dragon Season 3, Episode 4, “Tumbleton.”

The Real Daeron Targaryen Finally Steps Forward

House of the Dragon had been deliberately hiding Daeron in plain sight.

Ainsworth briefly appeared alongside Lord Ormund Hightower during the Season 3 premiere, but the series avoided clearly identifying him. The following episodes introduced another boy who had been dressed and presented as Daeron, part of Ormund’s attempt to protect the real prince from capture.

Episode 4 finally drops the deception. Ainsworth’s Daeron is revealed as the quiet young squire who has remained close to Ormund throughout the season. He does not have the silver hair normally associated with the Targaryen family, instead taking more visibly after his mother and the Hightower side of his upbringing.

It is certainly not a preview of Ainsworth in a green tunic. Daeron and Link are completely different characters, and nothing about his appearance in Westeros should be taken as evidence of how Nintendo’s hero will behave on screen.

Still, the episode gives Zelda fans a useful look at the young actor’s screen presence.

A Quiet Performance That Could Suit Link

Ainsworth plays Daeron as someone who is constantly watching the people around him. He chooses his words carefully, notices when Ormund is about to lose control and seems uncomfortable with the political role being prepared for him.

That restraint is interesting in the context of Link.

Nintendo has not revealed how talkative its live-action version of Link will be, but the character has traditionally communicated through expressions, movement and brief responses rather than long speeches. Any actor taking the role will need to make quiet moments feel meaningful without turning Link into an empty presence.

Ainsworth shows some of that ability in “Tumbleton.” His Daeron looks uneasy long before he openly resists an order. He communicates fear, sympathy and hesitation through small changes in posture and expression. The performance never becomes overly theatrical, even while sharing scenes with James Norton’s much louder and more unpredictable Ormund.

The strongest example comes during Daeron’s interaction with Tessarion, his dragon. Away from Ormund, Daeron briefly appears gentler and more comfortable. Ainsworth described Tessarion as the one companion who has remained with Daeron throughout his isolated upbringing, making their connection one of the few relationships in which the prince can lower his guard.

That emotional range may prove valuable when Ainsworth trades Tessarion for Epona and Westeros for Hyrule.

Daeron Is Pushed Toward a Darker Path

The similarities between Daeron and Link end quickly once Ormund puts his larger plan into motion.

Ormund intends to transform the reluctant prince into a ruler he can control. To break Daeron’s resistance, he orders him to kill Leo, an innocent man whom Ormund had publicly pretended to protect. Daeron initially refuses, but the pressure from his guardian eventually becomes too much. He carries out the killing despite clearly understanding that it is wrong.

It is a grim scene, but it gives Ainsworth more to work with than a conventional heroic role might. Daeron is frightened, compassionate and increasingly trapped. He has a dragon and a royal name, yet very little control over his own future.

Link will presumably be a far more courageous and morally certain character. Even so, playing someone who must find strength while surrounded by forces larger than himself is useful preparation for a fantasy adventure built around an inexperienced hero answering an enormous call.

Ainsworth Learned He Was Link After Filming His First Episode

The connection between the two productions is closer than it first appears.

Ainsworth has revealed that he learned he had been cast as Link shortly after completing his first day on the House of the Dragon set. That day involved horses, dust and the military camp scenes seen during the Season 3 premiere. He returned home after filming and received the news that he would lead Nintendo’s first live-action Zelda adaptation.

Before joining either production, Ainsworth was best known for playing Miles Wingrave in Netflix’s The Haunting of Bly Manor. He also voiced and performed the title character in Disney’s 2022 adaptation of Pinocchio. His role as Daeron now places him in one of television’s largest fantasy series just before he becomes the face of another major fantasy world.

Nintendo officially selected Ainsworth to play Link opposite Bo Bragason as Princess Zelda. Bragason’s previous work includes Renegade Nell, The Jetty and King & Conqueror.

The Zelda Movie Arrives in April 2027

The live-action Legend of Zelda movie is being directed by Wes Ball, whose credits include the Maze Runner films and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Nintendo and Arad Productions are producing the movie, while Sony Pictures is co-financing the project and handling its worldwide theatrical distribution.

The movie is currently scheduled to open worldwide on April 30, 2027. That date was moved forward one week from the previously announced May 7 release.

Nintendo has not disclosed the movie’s plot or confirmed whether it will adapt one particular game. That leaves major questions surrounding Ganondorf, the Master Sword, the Triforce and the version of Hyrule that Ball intends to bring to the screen.

Ainsworth’s appearance in House of the Dragon does not answer any of them. It does, however, give fans a better idea of why a relatively unfamiliar actor may have appealed to Nintendo.

He can carry quiet scenes, react naturally to effects-heavy fantasy elements and portray vulnerability without making his character seem passive. Those are encouraging qualities for an actor preparing to play Link, even when he is currently dressed in Hightower green instead of the more familiar shade associated with the Hero of Hyrule.