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Who says Mondays can’t have good things? Nintendo casually revealed on the Nintendo app the first real look at Link and Zelda in the upcoming adaptation of The Legend of Zelda. Production recently began, and the official photos show Link (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) and Zelda (Bo Bragason) separately and together in the land of Hyrule. Check it out.
There they are, that’s them! At the moment, Nintendo’s not said anything about the plot, but Link’s outfit looks inspired by his tunic in Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, and Zelda’s is from the Champion’s Tunic worn by Link in Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. We also know Dicen Lachman is playing Impa, and unofficial set photos suggest she takes some inspiration from her younger appearance in the Breath of the Wild spinoff Age of Calamity. Whether that means this is a straight adaptation of any of the games or the movie is just visually lifting from them, the decision makes sense to lean into the background of the most recent Zelda titles: Breath of the Wild was a shot in the arm for the franchise and gaming and provided a clear entry point for everyone.
That may be the intent, since in 2023, director Wes Ball talked about him and Nintendo wanting to “give fans what they’re hoping for and also invite new people in.” Ball, who already had ideas about making a Legend of Zelda movie before he landed the gig, then mentioned wanting to “make something really special. We’re not just trying to do it because we can.” They’re aiming for something akin to a “live-action Miyazaki” that’s nonetheless its own thing.
We’ll see how that goes when The Legend of Zelda hits theaters on May 7, 2027.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
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Source: Gizmodo