Nintendo Shares First Official Look at Link and Zelda as Filming on THE LEGEND OF ZELDA Movie
Nintendo just made a lot of fans very happy. After some leaked set videos made the round from the upcoming live-action The Legend of Zelda movie, the company stepped in and released the first official images.
The shots reveal Bo Bragason as Princess Zelda and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link, giving us our clearest idea yet of how this long awaited adaptation is shaping up.
The images arrived through the Nintendo Today app and immediately lit up the fandom. They feature the two leads in full costume, standing on a lush green field that definitely gives off New Zealand vibes where The Legend of Zelda is currently filming.
Everything from the Hylian ears to the fabric textures aims to bring the classic game world into a grounded live action space. They look great!
Nintendo then posted the images on X, and shared an update from series creator Shigeru Miyamoto, who reassured fans that the movie is moving forward smoothly. Miyamoto said:
"Filming is on track for the film’s release on May 7, 2027. It will take a while until the release, so we would be grateful if you would wait patiently and look forward to it."
As soon as the images went public, fans filled social media with reactions and plenty of excitement about how faithful the film appears to be so far.
One user wrote, "I've never imagined a live-action of a Nintendo game to look this good. Kudos to the casting dept. They're the spitting images of Link and Zelda."
Another fan added, "they look so much like how I imagine the characters."
Someone else was blown away by Ainsworth’s Link, saying, "Okay, now that I see him [Link] in costume. That is INCREDIBLE. Absolutely NAILED the look, and I like how it looks like the BOTW champions tunic details, but with the classic green. Appealing to both era's of fans is awesome!"
Not every reaction was without questions, though. One fan shared a mix of excitement and curiosity, saying, "Okay, first look and I’m already hyped! Link looks like he could actually swing that Master Sword, and Zelda… iconic vibes. But do you think this live-action version can actually capture the magic of the games without feeling too Hollywood?"
With filming underway and the first official look now out in the world, anticipation for The Legend of Zelda is growing. Bringing such a beloved video game franchise to live action is a massive challenge, but these early images suggest the filmmakers are working to honor both the classic style and the more recent game era.
The Legend of Zelda is set to hit theaters on May 7, 2027, and if this first look is any indication, fans have a lot to look forward to.
