First images from The Legend of Zelda movie revealed.

2 hours ago7 min read4 comments

The hype is officially real, people. After years of rumors and that one agonizingly long wait since the initial announcement, we finally have our first proper look at Nintendo’s live-action The Legend of Zelda movie, and my inner Hylian is screaming.Over the weekend, the internet did its thing, leaking grainy videos from the New Zealand set that sent the fandom into a meltdown. But now, Nintendo has decided to bless us with three high-def bangers via its Nintendo Today app, officially confirming that filming has kicked off and giving us a crystal-clear look at our hero and heroine.Let’s break it down. The first shot is pure cinematic fantasy fuel: Link and Zelda standing together with the epic, lush backdrop of New Zealand serving as a dead ringer for Hyrule itself.It’s a powerful establishing shot that immediately sells the scale and the vibe. Then we get the close-ups, and the casting choices are instantly fascinating.Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link absolutely looks the part, rocking the character's iconic green tunic. This is a massive deal for the lore-heads out there.For the last several years, thanks to Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, we’ve become accustomed to Link in his Champion’s blue. The return to the classic green is a clear signal—a love letter to the long-time fans who grew up with the Ocarina of Time and A Link to the Past era.It’s a deliberate nod to the series' roots, and it feels like a smart move to bridge the generations of players. Then there’s Zelda, played by Bo Bragason, and she is not just standing around looking regal.She’s rocking a blue outfit that feels more practical and adventurous, and crucially, she is armed with a bow. Let me repeat that: Zelda has a weapon.In 2025, the damsel-in-distress trope needs to be locked in the Temple of Time forever, and this image gives me so much hope that we’re getting a proactive, capable princess who can hold her own against Ganon’s forces. Imagine co-op gameplay but in a movie—Link with the Master Sword and Zelda providing ranged support with her bow? That’s the kind of dynamic duo modern audiences crave.The choice to potentially mash up timelines and eras is also a genius-level play. By not strictly adhering to, say, the Ocarina of Time storyline or the Breath of the Wild saga, the filmmakers, including director Wes Ball who proved he can handle large-scale world-building with the Maze Runner films, are giving themselves the creative freedom to craft a new, definitive Zelda narrative for the big screen.They can cherry-pick the most iconic elements—the Triforce, the Great Deku Tree, the Gorons, the Zora—and weave them into a fresh epic that feels familiar yet surprising. It’s a safer bet than trying to adapt one specific game and inevitably facing the wrath of fans over every minor deviation.The release date is still a distant beacon on May 7, 2027, which feels like an eternity away. With filming just starting, we’re in for a long, drip-fed marketing campaign.But these first images are a perfect starter pack. They’ve successfully built anticipation, reassured fans about the aesthetic, and sparked a million theory-crafting threads online.The pressure is immense—this is Nintendo’s next big cinematic play after the colossal success of the Mario movie—but based on this first glimpse, they’re not just playing it safe; they’re aiming to create something that honors the legacy while boldly carving its own path in Hyrule’s storied history. Now, someone get me a trailer, stat.

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