The Triforce has been cast. The live-action film adaptation of The Legend of Zelda, co-produced by Nintendo and Sony Pictures, officially has its Princess Zelda and Hero of Time, and the internet is ablaze with reactions.
On Wednesday morning, Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto stunned fans worldwide by announcing on social media that Bo Bragason will take on the role of Princess Zelda, while Benjamin Evan Ainsworth will wield the Master Sword as Link.
But who exactly are these young stars poised to bring Hyrule to life? Here’s a deep dive into where you’ve seen them before and why their resumes may be more legendary than you think.
Benjamin Evan Ainsworth: From Gothic Mansions to the Kingdom of Hyrule
Age: 16
Notable for: The Haunting of Bly Manor, Pinocchio, Son of a Critch
Benjamin Evan Ainsworth is no stranger to the fantastical. Born on September 25, 2008, the English actor first haunted viewers’ screens as the deeply troubled Miles in Netflix’s 2020 gothic horror hit The Haunting of Bly Manor. His chilling and emotionally complex performance earned him early praise, with many noting his uncanny maturity and eerie poise.
By 2021, Ainsworth had joined the House of Mouse, starring as William in Disney’s superhero-comedy Flora & Ulysses. That same year, he made a bold leap into iconic territory by voicing the titular puppet-turned-boy in Robert Zemeckis’ live-action remake of Pinocchio, a high-profile (and heavily scrutinized) role that placed him alongside Tom Hanks and Cynthia Erivo.
Ainsworth further showcased his comedic chops as Mark Critch in the Canadian coming-of-age series Son of a Critch, adapted from the memoirs of comedian Mark Critch. In 2022, he briefly appeared in Netflix’s The Sandman, solidifying his growing reputation as a versatile performer able to pivot between genres.
Now, with Zelda’s sword-swinging Link in his future, Ainsworth moves from spooky mansions and magical forests to the epic landscapes of Hyrule.
Bo Bragason: From Real-Life Tragedy to Fantasy Royalty
Age: 21
Notable for: Three Girls, The Jetty, Renegade Nell, The Radleys
Bo Bragason, born in 2004, has quietly built one of the most impressive under-the-radar resumes of any rising British actress her age.
She began her career with a punch to the gut in the harrowing 2017 BBC One miniseries Three Girls, which dramatized the Rochdale child sex abuse scandal. Bragason’s performance, although early in her career, demonstrated emotional depth well beyond her years.
After that harrowing breakout, Bragason dipped into the genre world with 2021’s psychological horror Censor, a stylish Sundance darling. More recently, she lit up television screens in two 2024 standouts: Disney+’s fantasy-adventure series Renegade Nell, where she starred alongside Louisa Harland, and BBC’s moody thriller The Jetty.
On the film side, Bragason headlined Euros Lyn’s 2024 vampire comedy The Radleys, showing off her dark humor and knack for the supernatural.
As Princess Zelda, Bragason now steps into the luminous lineage of one of gaming’s most beloved heroines, a scholarly and powerful monarch whose destiny is inextricably tied to courage, wisdom, and power. Judging from Bragason’s previous work, it’s a crown she’s more than ready to wear.
A New Era of Hyrule Begins
The live-action Legend of Zelda is being directed by Wes Ball, whose credentials include The Maze Runner trilogy and the 2024 box office juggernaut Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Producers Shigeru Miyamoto and Avi Arad are overseeing what may become one of the most ambitious video game adaptations of all time.
The film is currently set to hit theaters May 7, 2027, after being pushed back from its original March release due to production delays. But anticipation remains sky-high.
With the massive success of 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which grossed over $1.3 billion globally, the pressure is on for Zelda to match or exceed that phenomenon. And while Link and Zelda have never uttered a word in their original games, fans will now get to hear them speak, emote, and battle evil in full cinematic glory.
“I am very much looking forward to seeing both of them on the big screen,” Miyamoto wrote in the announcement.
So are we.
