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.
