The Legend Of Zelda Adaptation Filming Location Revealed As $2.96 Billion Epic Fantasy Franchise Set

4 hours ago 9

Link and Zelda in a field together in The Legend of Zelda

Published Apr 5, 2026, 8:52 AM EDT

Rianna is the Movie News Editor for ScreenRant. After earning her BA in Film Studies, she began her career as an entertainment writer, contributing to several publications before joining ScreenRant. Her dissertation on the impact of streaming on traditional cinema sharpened her focus on the ever-evolving world of film and media. With 6 years in the industry, Rianna continues to cover the stories she loves while also advocating for awareness and representation of rare disabilities, such as Moebius Syndrome, which she lives with.

The Legend of Zelda lives on, and it's taking a few notes from an epic fantasy franchise still captivating audiences.

The Zelda franchise began in 1986 when Nintendo released the first game created by Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. An animated series was adapted from the games and released in 1989, which showed Princess Zelda and Link fighting to protect Hyrule from the evil wizard Ganon. It has grown into Nintendo's most successful franchise with 21 entries on gaming consoles.

The live-action adaptation of The Legend of Zelda, directed by Wes Ball, has been spotted filming in Otago, New Zealand. The name may sound familiar, as it was also the backdrop to Peter Jackson's fantasy epic The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The stunning backdrop is a good sign for fans hesitant to watch an adaptation of their beloved franchise, as it has clearly been successful for other adaptations also filmed there.

The first look photos released by Nintendo show Bo Bragason as Zelda and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link against stunning surroundings. Filming is meant to wrap towards the end of April 2026, as the aim is to release the highly-anticipated game adaptation on May 7, 2027. The use of the incredible backdrop New Zealand offers means that the heavy use of CGI could be less of a possibility, as the production may focus on more realism.

Miyamoto, creator of Nintendo’s various franchises like Mario and The Legend of Zelda, has commented on Nintendo's focus on making movies following the recent release of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie after the commercially successful first animated movie, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, in 2023. Miyamoto told Kyodo News, "Games eventually stop running when newer versions come out, but films remain forever."

Otago is located in the southeastern region of New Zealand's South Island. Its terrain consists of snow-capped mountains, glacial lakes, and sandy beaches. Recent productions that were also filmed in the Glenorchy area include Mission: Impossible - Fallout, Mulan, Alien: Covenant, and The Power of the Dog. Of course, the LOTR trilogy remains the location's favorite franchise, where New Zealand celebrates its legacy many years after its release.

Not much has been announced regarding the movie or its initial premise, but the release date for The Legend of Zelda movie will be released in theaters on May 7, 2027.