The live-action adaptation of The Legend of Zelda has been delayed, but only slightly. Originally scheduled for March 26, 2027, Nintendo has now confirmed the film will hit theaters on May 7 instead.
Shigeru Miyamoto, the legendary game designer behind the original Mario and Zelda titles, explained that the unexpected delay, likely to disappoint many fans, was due to “production reasons.”
“It will be some weeks later than the release timing we originally announced, and we will take the extra time to make the film as good as it can be. Thank you for your patience,” Miyamoto wrote on social media.
Nintendo has not provided additional details about the decision, but by taking over the release slot previously held by Avengers: Secret Wars, the company positions the film for a strong box office debut while steering clear of major competition in March.
Very little is known about the project so far, aside from its release date. The film will reportedly follow Link as he embraces his destiny as the hero of Hyrule, while the iconic villain Ganondorf seeks control of the Triforce. Casting rumors have begun to circulate, but nothing has been confirmed, so the final shape of the movie remains uncertain.
Originally revealed in November 2023, the movie is being co-produced by Miyamoto and Avi Arad, former Marvel Studios CEO. Sony Pictures is partnering with Nintendo to co-finance and distribute the film. Derek Connolly (Jurassic World) is writing the screenplay, while Wes Ball (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes and the Maze Runner trilogy) will direct.
Zelda movie will reportedly be part of a trilogy
Nintendo and Sony Pictures seem to have high hopes for the Zelda movie. According to industry insider Daniel Richtman, the two companies may be planning a full trilogy, and are reportedly asking actors to sign on for multiple films to be produced over a six-year period.
Richtman also claims that shooting will kick off in November 2025 in New Zealand, the same country where major projects like The Lord of the Rings trilogy were filmed.