New Look at Link Leaks From THE LEGEND OF ZELDA Movie
We’ve got a new image of Link to share with you thanks to an image that was shared online of The Legend of Zelda movie clapboard.
It offers fans another look yet at Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as the legendary hero. Link’s look, especially the color palette and costume details, has people convinced the film is drawing heavy inspiration from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
It’s a darker, more grounded aesthetic from the 2006 GameCube and Wii game seems to be shaping the tone here, and honestly, it fits surprisingly well for a live-action take.
Up to now, details on the live-action adaptation have been tightly controlled. Aside from an official first look and a few shaky set videos from early filming, there hasn’t been much to go on.
That changed when cinematographer Gyula Pados briefly posted the clapboard photo on Instagram before pulling it down. Too late though. Fans grabbed it and now it’s spreading.
The film has already wrapped production. Filming kicked off on November 4, 2025, in Wellington, New Zealand and ran through April 2026.
The film is directed by Wes Ball, known for The Maze Runner trilogy and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. He’s working from a script by Derek Connolly and T.S. Nowlin, a duo with plenty of blockbuster experience.
Ball has been pretty open about what he wants to deliver with this adaptation, saying: "I've been thinking about it for a long freakin' time. 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."
He also shared his creative vision, explaining that it’s "awesome fantasy-adventure movie that isn’t like Lord of the Rings, it’s its own thing. I've always said, I would love to see a live-action Miyazaki. That wonder and whimsy that he brings to things, I would love to see something like that."
That mix of grounded fantasy with a sense of wonder could be exactly what this franchise needs to work on the big screen.
For those wondering about the story, a synopsis from the Film & Television Alliance gives us the classic setup fans will recognize:
"The Legend of Zelda follows Link, a young warrior destined to protect the magical kingdom of Hyrule from the forces of darkness. The land is under threat from Ganon, a ruthless warlord who seeks the Triforce — an ancient relic said to grant limitless power.
“To stop him, Link must embark on a perilous journey, battling monstrous creatures, exploring treacherous dungeons, and solving intricate puzzles to uncover sacred artifacts that can aid him in his quest."
Nintendo isn’t just handing this off and hoping for the best. Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto is directly involved as a producer, which should give longtime fans a little more confidence in how this is all being handled.
The Legend of Zelda movie is currently set to hit theaters on May 7, 2027.