An adventure begins – even before the movie hits theaters
When a brand like “The Legend of Zelda” finally takes the leap into live-action cinema, expectations are automatically set high. For decades, the series was considered untouchable, material that could only be transferred to a new medium with extreme caution and great respect. Now, of all things, spontaneous smartphone recordings from New Zealand are the first impressions that fans worldwide get to see.
The clips show Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link and Bo Bragason as Princess Zelda in their full costumes – and this moment alone seems almost surreal. Instead of render trailers and concept art, you see real actors in a real landscape, flanked by a film crew that is obviously working on a large-scale fantasy production. The backdrops are reminiscent of the vast regions of New Zealand that already featured in the “Lord of the Rings” films and have become synonymous with epic worlds for many studios worldwide.
What particularly amazes fans is that the visuals seem to be based on the latest game generations. The costumes show clear parallels to “Breath of the Wild” and “Tears of the Kingdom.” This suggests that the film is not necessarily a reinterpretation, but rather takes up a familiar style. At the same time, it gives the impression of breaking new ground in film – there has never been a live-action project of this magnitude in the history of Zelda.
“Stylistically oriented towards Breath of the Wild” – set videos raise expectations and concerns
The longer the clips circulate online, the more intense the discussion about what they imply becomes. Some viewers are reminded of cosplay meetings at Gamescom when they first see Link and Zelda. This is not because the costumes look cheap, but rather because the characters are so iconic that any realistic portrayal inevitably seems unfamiliar. This is precisely the risk of a live-action film: it has to strike a balance between appearing credible and high-quality without alienating the familiar designs.
The context at Nintendo is also exciting. Until now, the company has mainly excelled with animated films. The “Super Mario Bros. Movie” developed into a global box office hit under Illumination – a success that now raises the bar. The fact that Nintendo is relying on live-action film for the first time with “Zelda” shows courage, but also confidence that the fantasy world is cinematically viable. According to official information, the film is scheduled to be released in US cinemas on May 7, 2027. A date for Germany has yet to be announced.
It remains to be seen how much the set videos actually reveal. But one thing is certain: these first images have opened the door. Now the excitement is growing for everything that follows – from the first official teaser to the complete costumes to the question of how Zelda and Link will harmonize on the big screen. Fans are currently witnessing the birth of a project that everyone will probably be talking about in two years’ time.
