Nintendo is taking another massive swing at Hollywood, and this time it’s with one of their most beloved franchises. The live-action Legend of Zelda movie has officially begun production in New Zealand as of November 4, 2025, according to an update on the Film and Television Industry Alliance website. After being announced back in 2023 and surviving one delay already, cameras are finally rolling on what could become Nintendo’s next billion-dollar film franchise.
From Pre-Production to Actual Filming
The FTIA listing changed the film’s status from “Pre-Production” to “In Production” this week, marking a significant milestone for the project. Principal photography kicked off on November 4, 2025, in Wellington, New Zealand, with shooting scheduled to wrap on April 7, 2026. That’s a solid five-month production window, which suggests they’re going all-in on bringing Hyrule to life with practical sets and location filming.
Wellington isn’t a random choice either. The city has become synonymous with fantasy filmmaking thanks to Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, James Cameron’s Avatar, and King Kong. If you’re making a movie about a magical kingdom filled with dungeons, monsters, and ancient relics, Wellington is basically the industry standard location. The infrastructure is there, the crews know how to handle epic fantasy productions, and the landscapes provide that otherworldly feeling you need for Hyrule.
Who’s Making This Thing?
The creative team behind the Zelda movie is actually pretty impressive when you look at the names involved. Wes Ball is directing, fresh off Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, and before that he handled the entire Maze Runner trilogy. Ball actually has a funny connection to this project – back in 2010, he tweeted that a live-action Zelda movie should be the next Avatar-style blockbuster, but said he could never hope to direct it. Thirteen years later, he’s got the job.
On the producing side, you’ve got Shigeru Miyamoto, the legendary Nintendo developer who created Zelda in the first place. This isn’t just Nintendo licensing out their IP and hoping for the best. Miyamoto has been personally involved in development for years, ensuring the film stays true to the games. Joining him is Avi Arad, the Marvel Studios founder behind multiple Spider-Man films and Uncharted. The screenplay was written by T.S. Nowlin, who has experience with the Maze Runner films.
Sony Pictures is handling co-financing and global distribution, which makes sense given their existing relationship with Nintendo. They’re clearly hoping to replicate the success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which earned over $1.3 billion worldwide and proved that Nintendo properties can absolutely dominate theaters when done right.
Meet Your Link and Zelda
The casting was revealed back in July 2025, and Nintendo went with two relatively unknown actors for the iconic roles. Bo Bragason, who appeared in Renegade Nell, will play Princess Zelda. Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, known for The Haunting of Bly Manor, landed the role of Link. Both actors are young, which makes sense given that Link is typically portrayed as a teenage or young adult hero in most Zelda games.
Choosing lesser-known actors is actually a smart move for a franchise like this. They’re more affordable, they won’t overshadow the characters with their own celebrity, and if the film becomes a massive hit, Nintendo essentially locks them into potential sequels without dealing with inflated star salaries down the line. It’s the same strategy Marvel used early on with actors like Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston.
What’s the Plot Actually About?
According to the FTIA project summary, the film will follow a pretty classic Zelda storyline. Link is a young warrior destined to protect the kingdom of Hyrule from darkness. The land faces a threat from Ganon, a ruthless warlord seeking the Triforce, an ancient relic that grants limitless power. To stop him, Link must embark on a perilous journey, battling monsters, exploring treacherous dungeons, and solving intricate puzzles to find sacred artifacts.
That description sounds like it could apply to almost any Zelda game, which is probably intentional. Rather than directly adapting a specific game like Ocarina of Time or Breath of the Wild, it seems like they’re creating an original story that incorporates classic elements from across the franchise. That gives them creative freedom while still delivering what fans expect – Link, Zelda, Ganon, the Triforce, dungeons, puzzles, and epic battles.
The approach makes sense from a storytelling perspective. Ocarina of Time has time travel mechanics that could get messy in a two-hour movie. Breath of the Wild is intentionally open-ended and non-linear, which doesn’t translate well to traditional cinema. By creating an original story inspired by the franchise’s greatest hits, they can craft something that works as a standalone film while leaving room for sequels.
When Can We Actually See It?
The Legend of Zelda movie is scheduled to hit theaters on May 7, 2027. That date has already been pushed back once – the film was originally slated for March 26, 2027, but Miyamoto announced the delay in June 2025, citing production reasons. The extra couple months should give them breathing room for post-production, visual effects, and making sure everything meets Nintendo’s quality standards.
May 2027 puts it right in the heart of summer blockbuster season, which is prime real estate for a tentpole release. Nintendo clearly has confidence this will be a major theatrical event, not just a streaming release or limited run. They’re competing with whatever Marvel, DC, and other major studios have planned for that timeframe.
The Stakes Are Incredibly High
Nintendo is clearly trying to build a cinematic universe around their gaming properties, similar to what Marvel did with comic books. The Super Mario Bros. Movie proved the concept works financially. A sequel called The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is already in development. During Mario’s 40th anniversary in September, Nintendo announced that film, suggesting they might do something similar for Zelda’s 40th anniversary in February 2026.
Some industry watchers are predicting the first Zelda trailer could arrive around that anniversary date, giving fans their first real look at how Hyrule translates to live-action. That would follow the typical blockbuster marketing playbook – drop the first trailer about 15 months before release, build hype gradually, then ramp up advertising in the final six months.
But success isn’t guaranteed just because Mario worked. Zelda is a different beast entirely. Mario is colorful, kid-friendly, and inherently comedic. Zelda is more serious, more fantasy-oriented, and has a fanbase with very specific expectations about tone, lore, and world-building. Get it wrong, and you’ve got another Warcraft on your hands – a movie that made decent money but failed to launch a franchise because it didn’t connect with general audiences or satisfy hardcore fans.
Why This Could Actually Work
Despite the risks, there are reasons to be optimistic. Video game adaptations have gotten significantly better in recent years. The Last of Us on HBO proved you can do serious, character-driven storytelling with game properties. The Super Mario Bros. Movie showed Nintendo knows how to protect their brands while still making crowd-pleasing entertainment. And fantasy adventure films remain one of the most consistently successful genres when executed properly.
The key advantage Zelda has over many game adaptations is that it’s not trying to directly translate gameplay into film. Link doesn’t need to collect 100 rupees or find heart pieces to progress the story. The games have always been about the adventure, the hero’s journey, and the battle between light and darkness. Those are timeless storytelling elements that predate video games entirely and translate perfectly to cinema.
Plus, with Nintendo directly involved through Miyamoto, there’s creative oversight from someone who genuinely cares about the franchise and won’t let it become a generic fantasy film with Zelda branding slapped on. That level of creator involvement was crucial to The Super Mario Bros. Movie’s success and will likely be just as important here.
FAQs
When did filming start for the Zelda movie?
Principal photography officially began on November 4, 2025, in Wellington, New Zealand. The Film and Television Industry Alliance updated the project status from “Pre-Production” to “In Production” that same week. Filming is scheduled to continue until April 7, 2026.
Who is directing The Legend of Zelda movie?
Wes Ball is directing the film. He’s best known for directing the Maze Runner trilogy and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Interestingly, Ball tweeted back in 2010 that a Zelda film should be made but said he could never hope to direct it himself.
Who was cast as Link and Zelda?
Benjamin Evan Ainsworth will play Link, while Bo Bragason has been cast as Princess Zelda. Ainsworth is known for The Haunting of Bly Manor, and Bragason appeared in Renegade Nell. Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto announced the casting in July 2025.
When will The Legend of Zelda movie be released?
The film is scheduled for theatrical release on May 7, 2027. This date was pushed back from the original March 26, 2027 release. Miyamoto cited production reasons for the delay, noting the extra time would be used to improve the film’s quality.
What is the plot of the Zelda movie?
According to the official project summary, the film follows Link, a young warrior protecting Hyrule from Ganon, who seeks the Triforce artifact. Link must battle monsters, explore dungeons, and solve puzzles to find sacred artifacts and stop Ganon. It appears to be an original story incorporating classic franchise elements rather than adapting a specific game.
Why is the movie being filmed in New Zealand?
Wellington, New Zealand has become the go-to location for fantasy filmmaking, having hosted productions like The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Avatar, and King Kong. The city has experienced crews, established infrastructure for large-scale productions, and landscapes perfect for creating otherworldly settings like Hyrule.
Is this connected to The Super Mario Bros. Movie?
While both are Nintendo properties being adapted into films, there’s no indication they share a connected universe. However, the success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which earned over $1.3 billion, directly influenced Nintendo’s decision to move forward aggressively with more film adaptations including Zelda.
When might we see the first trailer?
Industry watchers predict the first trailer could arrive around February 2026, which marks Zelda’s 40th anniversary. Nintendo announced the Super Mario Galaxy Movie during Mario’s 40th anniversary, suggesting they might follow a similar pattern for major franchise milestones.
Conclusion
The Legend of Zelda movie entering production marks a massive moment for both Nintendo and gaming culture in general. With experienced filmmakers, a proven location, a clear creative vision, and Nintendo’s direct involvement, all the pieces are in place for something special. Whether it can capture the magic that made The Super Mario Bros. Movie such a phenomenon remains to be seen, but the foundation looks solid. From now until May 2027, fans will be watching every casting announcement, set photo, and teaser with intense scrutiny. If Nintendo and Sony pull this off, we could be looking at the start of a new tentpole franchise that rivals anything coming out of Marvel or DC. And if they don’t? Well, at least we’ll always have the games.