Should Fans Be Worried About the Zelda Movie?

The first movie based on The Legend of Zelda is set to be released in 2027, but casual fans could be forgiven for not knowing. So far, Nintendo has revealed casting information and a handful of images of Benjamin Evan Ainsworth and Bo Bragason as Link and Zelda, respectively, but little else. For those passionate about the iconic video game franchise, this lack of information could raise some alarm bells about how the upcoming movie is progressing.

Earlier this year, Nintendo and Sony bumped up the film’s release date, which means that The Legend of Zelda will arrive in theaters on April 30, 2027. Unfortunately, few additional details have been announced in the months since. While many fans expected to see a teaser during Nintendo’s recent Zelda Direct, series creator Shigeru Miyamoto only mentioned the movie briefly. With about seven months left until The Legend of Zelda’s release, fans might be worried.

Where is The Legend of Zelda Movie’s Trailer?

The absence of a teaser or trailer for The Legend of Zelda has alarmed fans already, but it isn’t that unusual. After all, there’s no rule about when the first teaser or full trailer has to be shown. However, die-hard Zelda fans would no doubt love a closer look at the movie’s take on Hyrule and iconic franchise costumes. In the lead-up to The Super Mario Bros. Movie, the first teaser was revealed about six months before its release, premiering at New York Comic Con before the full trailer was shown during a Nintendo Direct the following month.

Given the missed opportunity of the Zelda Direct, it’s unclear when Nintendo and Sony will get a better chance to release the trailer. New York Comic Con is a possibility, but Sony might want to tie its release to one of the company’s bigger films, such as Jumanji: Open World. That movie is slated to release on Christmas Day, and the success of the previous Jumanji entries means that having a trailer attached for Zelda could get more eyes on it. However, though fans may have been disappointed about the lack of a trailer during Zelda Direct, releasing it around Christmas would likely be the company’s smartest move, given that Nintendo’s big game for the holiday season this year is a remake of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Putting out a trailer for the Zelda movie the same week that a lot of people will receive the new game would make a lot of sense.

This Isn’t Necessarily Bad News For the Zelda Movie

The lack of a trailer isn’t the only reason fans feel a bit concerned about Sony’s handling of The Legend of Zelda. The company’s track record with video game adaptations is spotty at best. Movies like Gran Turismo, Until Dawn, and Uncharted all struggled to capture the elements that fans love most about those games. However, it’s important to remember that the TV shows based on The Last of Us and Twisted Metal fared much, much better with viewers and critics alike, so Hyrule is undoubtedly in good hands.

While there are multiple reasons for fans to worry, there are more than enough positives to latch onto. Nintendo has always been fiercely protective of the Zelda franchise; former Nintendo of America executive Gail Tilden once said that the company would have even turned down Steven Spielberg had he asked to make a Zelda movie. Things have clearly changed a lot since then, as Nintendo is much more comfortable with adaptations of its properties. Director Wes Ball’s handling of the well-received Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes proves his skill at tackling an established franchise. Having Nintendo closely involved with development should also ensure that the movie sticks close to the elements fans have come to love about the games.

One of the few things Nintendo recently divulged about The Legend of Zelda is that the movie will not have a subtitle. Shigeru Miyamoto says that fans will understand that decision after seeing the movie, but it suggests that this isn’t an adaptation of a single game. Instead, the movie will likely pull elements from multiple favorites, like Breath of the Wild, A Link to the Past, and Ocarina of Time. That’s actually for the best, as an effort to adapt one specific game could set even higher expectations.

It’s still far too early to predict how The Legend of Zelda will turn out. However, the decision to pull from various games should mean the movie appeals to a wide range of fans. Filming wrapped earlier in 2026, so the lack of a trailer isn’t necessarily surprising, either. And, considering the Zelda movie release date was brought forward, fans don’t need to worry. There are more than enough reasons to have confidence in both Nintendo and Sony.

Release Date

April 30, 2027

Director

Wes Ball

Writers

Derek Connolly

Producers

Avi Arad, Joe Hartwick Jr.

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  Benjamin Evan Ainsworth

  Link

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  Bo Bragason

  Princess Zelda

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