‘Legend Of Zelda’ fans are outraged Hunter Schafer hasn’t been cast in movie adaptation

Nintendo has confirmed the first two actors for its upcoming live-action adaptation of The Legend Of Zelda – but some fans are happy that Hunter Schafer won’t be playing Zelda

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Yesterday (July 16) Zelda co-creator Shigeru Miyamoto shared a statement on social media that confirmed Princess Zelda will be played by Bo Bragason, an English actor who has previously appeared in The Radleys and Disney+ series Renegade Nell, while fellow Englishman Benjamin Evan Ainsworth will play Link.

Ainsworth is best known for playing Miles in Netflix’s The Haunting Of Bly Manor and also voiced Pinocchio in Disney’s live-action remake.

“I am very much looking forward to seeing both of them on the big screen,” Miyamoto added.

This is Miyamoto. I am pleased to announce that for the live-action film of The Legend of Zelda, Zelda will be played by Bo Bragason-san, and Link by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth-san. I am very much looking forward to seeing both of them on the big screen. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/KA5XW3lwul

— 任天堂株式会社 (@Nintendo) July 16, 2025

However some fans aren’t happy that Hunter Schafer hasn’t been cast as Zelda. In May, a report claimed she was being considered for a “major” role in the film and she’s been rumoured to star in the adaptation since it was first teased back in 2022.  “That would be cool. I played that video game a bunch when I was a kid, that’s such a good game,” she said at the time.

Responding to the fancasting the following year, Schafer said: “That would be so cool. I love the game, personally. I played it as a kid and I still play it now. Who knows! That would be pretty cool.”

Following the cast announcement, the hashtags NotMyZelda and WeWantHunter have been trending on X alongside images comparing Zelda and Schafer. “Not to hate on Bragason but I’m mad they didn’t cast Hunter Schafer as Zelda, she would’ve been so perfect,” one fan wrote on Reddit.

i have nothing against Bo but also #WeWantHunter https://t.co/5B3DXhlyZ9

— surreptitious☭ (@surreptitious03) July 16, 2025

However other fans have praised the decision to cast Bo Bragason and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth. “I would have LOVED Hunter as Zelda, but I am really pleased with the casting not caring about recognisable names. Maybe she’ll get to play a different Zelda in a different movie sometime, since the character has a bunch of reincarnations and/or parallel existences,” said one fan.

“Casting young unknown actors instead of Tom Holland or something makes me feel like they’re actually taking this somewhat seriously,” another wrote on X. “Going with complete unknowns and casting slightly younger was 100 per cent the right choice,” added a third.

The Legend Of Zelda movie will hit cinemas May 7 2027 and be directed by Wes Ball, with Zelda co-creator Shigeru Miyamoto set to serve as executive producer alongside Avi Arad, a former chief operating officer of Marvel Entertainment.

In other news, HBO boss Casey Bloys has said The Last Of Us season three might be the end of the hit zombie drama and the next batch of episodes will “definitely” be released in 2027.

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