A new rumor circulating online claims that Euphoria star Hunter Schafer—a biological male who identifies as female—is being considered for the role of Princess Zelda in Nintendo and Sony’s upcoming live-action Legend of Zelda movie. The rumor has sparked widespread debate among fans, due in part to the nature of Schafer’s public identity and what some see as a shift away from traditional casting.
Princess Zelda in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (2023), Nintendo
However, That Park Place has been contacted by two independent third-party sources, both of whom dispute the validity of the rumor. According to their accounts—neither of which we can independently verify—the claim appears without merit and does not come from any direct interest from Nintendo or Sony.
As always, readers are advised to treat unconfirmed reports with caution until official information is released.
Where the Rumor Began
The casting rumor originated with entertainment scooper Daniel Richtman, known online as DanielRPK, who claimed that Schafer was “being eyed” for the role of Princess Zelda. The story spread quickly across social media and fandom pages, fueled by Schafer’s high-profile roles and recent media attention.
Hunter Schafer is reportedly being eyed to play Princess Zelda in the live-action ‘LEGEND OF ZELDA’ film
(via: @DanielRPK) pic.twitter.com/jA5IryiRbL
— ScreenTime (@screentime) May 29, 2025
While Richtman is known for scoops in the comic book movie space—particularly with Marvel Studios—there is no known connection between his sources and Nintendo or its partners at Sony on the Zelda film.
Industry Sources Push Back on Hunter Schafer Zelda Casting
Following Richtman’s post, That Park Place was contacted by a trusted third-party source with a history of accurate information and direct knowledge of activity around the Zelda movie. This individual reached out under the condition of anonymity, disputed the rumor outright, and provided the following detailed statement.
“Richtman’s report, which states that Schafer is ‘being eyed,’ misrepresents the situation by implying Nintendo’s active interest,” the source told us. “In reality, the ‘eyeing’ stems from Schafer’s casting agents pitching to Nintendo, a common practice in Hollywood.”
Princess Zelda in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (2023), Nintendo
Our source also noted that Nintendo is notorious for maintaining strict secrecy around its projects, making such leaks “highly unlikely.”
“My confidence in debunking this rumor comes from a conversation with a casting agent who revealed that multiple actors’ agents, including Schafer’s, are aggressively pushing their clients to Nintendo to gain attention for the Zelda film,” the source said, noting that this doesn’t confirm Nintendo’s genuine interest.
“Richtman’s claim lacks credibility due to his lack of Nintendo sources, reliance on fan-driven hype, and the absence of official confirmation,” our source concluded. “The rumor is likely a distortion of Schafer’s agents’ efforts. Nintendo’s secretive nature makes any such ‘leak’ suspect. Until Nintendo or Sony issues an official statement, the rumor should be considered baseless.”
Link in The Legend of Zelda Breath of The Wild – YouTube, Nintendo of America
This source also revealed an additional major rumored detail about the Zelda film’s direction, but that information is still under review by our editorial team.
Second Source Corroborates
After receiving the first tip, That Park Place was contacted by a second source unrelated to the first. This individual also disputed the rumor, stating that to their knowledge, Schafer has not been the subject of any formal casting discussions.
What We Know About the Zelda Movie
The Zelda live-action movie was officially announced in late 2023 as a collaboration between Nintendo and Sony Pictures. Avi Arad, producer of Spider-Man and Uncharted, is co-producing the film alongside Nintendo’s own Shigeru Miyamoto.
Universal Experiences CEO Mark Woodbury and Mario/Donkey Kong Creator Shigeru Miyamoto in Super Nintendo World at Epic Universe – Photo Credit: NBC Universal
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No cast or release date has been announced, and development is still believed to be in early stages. Reports suggest the studios are seeking a younger actor to play Link, with Percy Jackson star Walker Scobell frequently cited as a general “type” rather than a confirmed name. Despite years of fan campaigns, Tom Holland is reportedly not under consideration.
Given Nintendo’s history with secrecy, fans are unlikely to receive concrete casting news until deals are finalized and publicly announced.
Final Word
That Park Place cannot confirm or deny the casting rumor but has received consistent information from two separate trusted third-party sources suggesting the Hunter Schafer Zelda speculation is not based on any actual studio movement. Our main source attributes the story to agent promotion and cautioned against interpreting it as evidence of internal decision-making at Nintendo or Sony.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017), Nintendo
Until official word comes from the studios, fans should view this as exactly what it is: unconfirmed chatter circulating through the entertainment rumor mill. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide verified updates as they become available.
Do you believe Nintendo and Sony might cast Hunter Schafer as Princess Zelda? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
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Hopefully that’s true. We don’t need a lunatic troon to further ruin what’s already likely going to be an awful movie. Plus Kojima already hired him for his newest game.
I can’t imagine Nintendo approving the casting of a tranny as their second most valuable female character (maybe 1st, but there’s a lot of people who would argue for Peach).
If they do that is going to be a disaster of epic proportions.
Hey, if they do cast this dude, maybe the Zelda action figure can come with “before and after” sets. A removable “twig and berries” and some fake “balloons” that hook over his shoulders.
We all know the Movie will be horrible, but if they hire a Trănny to play Zelda, it’s over.
I bet Link will speak instead of being a Silent Protagonist, Zelda will be a Girl Boss, Ganondorf will be “misunderstood”, and all the Fairies will be Fairies in real life.
We all thought Superhero Movie Fatigue was bad, now get ready for Video Game Movie Fatigue……….
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[…] Legend of Zelda” and our green-tunic-wearing hero is displayed on the box art. Thankfully, as That Park Place reported on May 30th of this year, the casting speculation was unfounded rumors created by Schafer’s own agents/PR […]