Nintendo’s live-action journey to Hyrule is no longer just a press release and a date on a calendar. Zelda filming is underway in New Zealand, and leaked on-set video is finally giving fans something concrete to discuss.
Namely, we got our first look at Zelda’s wardrobe, Link’s tunic color, and the identity of a mysterious woman who walks straight up to the princess.
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What we’re seeing is early, grainy, and very much “shot from the bushes,” but it still could be the clearest look yet at how Nintendo and Sony are translating the games to live action.
Cameras Rolling in New Zealand
Industry tracking listings and entertainment outlets now agree that the production has moved from pre-production to “in production” status, with principal photography underway in and around Wellington, New Zealand.
The shoot window runs from early November 2025 through April 7, 2026, giving the team several months on location before a long post-production runway.
Universal Experiences CEO Mark Woodbury and Mario/Donkey Kong Creator Shigeru Miyamoto in Super Nintendo World at Epic Universe – Photo Credit: NBC Universal
Nintendo and Sony are aiming for a worldwide theatrical release on May 7, 2027, after a slight delay from the previously announced March date. Producer and series creator Shigeru Miyamoto has publicly said the extra time is being taken for “production reasons” and to make the film as polished as possible.
The movie is directed by Wes Ball (Maze Runner, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes) and co-financed by Nintendo and Sony Pictures. Ball’s job is to bring a world that gamers have explored for nearly four decades into a grounded fantasy setting that still feels recognizably Hyrule.
Zelda in Blue, Link in Green
The new leaked set footage shows what appears to be Bo Bragason as Zelda, wearing a blue dress and black leggings in a forested clearing, complete with pointed ears. The dress immediately calls to mind the royal blue look associated with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and its sequel Tears of the Kingdom, even if the cut and details have been adapted for live action.
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In a second, shakier segment of the same video, viewers catch a glimpse of Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link, blond hair visible as he moves among crew and extras. In the footage above we can see that Link is wearing his classic green tunic.
Many recent Zelda titles, particularly Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, leaned heavily on blue champion’s tunics and alternate outfits for Link. Going straight to green in the film would signal that Ball and company want to anchor Link visually in the most traditional version of the character, even while they borrow elements from newer games.
Who is the Mystery Woman With Zelda?
One of the most interesting moments in the leaked set video doesn’t belong to Zelda or Link at all. In the first clip, Zelda walks toward a woman in darker clothing, and the two appear to interact in-scene.
Some have suggested this could be actress Dichen Lachman, known from genre projects like Jurassic World Dominion and various television roles.
A leaked set video from the Legend of Zelda movie – X, @dutiesofcare
But that still leaves the question: who is she playing?
Many viewers believe the character could be Impa, the long-running Sheikah elder and advisor to Princess Zelda who has appeared in multiple games, from the original NES title through Ocarina of Time, Skyward Sword, and Breath of the Wild.
That distinction matters. Impa is a character inside the story’s lore, a Sheikah guardian tied to Zelda’s bloodline and to Hyrule’s deepest secrets.
A screenshot from The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (2023), Nintendo
The film has not officially announced Impa, nor has any casting notice publicly attached Lachman (or anyone else) to the role. Until it does, Impa’s presence has to be discussed as exactly what it is: strong but unconfirmed fan theory based on appearance and staging.
If Impa is in the movie, though, that’s a big signal for the tone of the story. It would suggest the film is not just doing a bare-bones “hero saves princess” plot, but tapping into Sheikah history, royal duty, and maybe even elements that could support future sequels.
The Bigger Picture for Zelda
Beyond the costume debates and “is that Impa?” screenshots, the real takeaway is simple: these set photos show that the Legend of Zelda movie is filming. It’s happening right now, and the cameras are rolling on location rather than on a green-screen stage.
New Zealand’s mountains, forests, and rolling hills have already proven their fantasy credentials with other franchises like The Lord of The Rings, and they’re a natural fit for Hyrule’s mix of peaceful meadows and looming danger.
Benjamin Evan Ainsworth sits for an interview – YouTube, Pop Culturalist
With Benjamin Evan Ainsworth officially playing Link and Bo Bragason as Zelda, Nintendo has chosen comparatively young, less-famous actors instead of the usual Hollywood “stunt casting” names.
That’s good news for fans who want these roles to belong to the characters first, not to existing celebrity personas. It also means early on-set glimpses like this carry extra weight—this is the audience’s first real chance to see whether the casting feels right in motion.
Bo Bragason sits for an interview – YouTube, Popternative
The early verdict from social media? Cautious optimism mixed with the usual internet microscope treatment. Fans are pausing frames to inspect tunic shades, enhancing screenshots to guess at embroidery, and debating whether a single set leak video is enough to “confirm” Impa.
None of it is official canon yet—but all of it proves there’s a massive appetite to see how Nintendo’s second big theatrical push, following the billion-dollar success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, handles one of its most beloved franchises.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017), Nintendo
For now, the only things we can say with certainty are that Zelda filming is underway in New Zealand, the leads are in costume, and the studio is locked in on a May 7, 2027 release date. Everything else—green tunic or blue, Impa or another Sheikah entirely—will have to wait for clearer trailers and official confirmation.
But if a shaky video from the tree line is already sparking this much conversation, Nintendo probably isn’t complaining.
What do you think of this Zelda Set Video? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
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