The Legend of Zelda is basically the crown jewel of gaming. It’s the one franchise Nintendo fans treat with a level of reverence that borders on the religious. So, when Wes Ball and Sony announced they were making a live-action movie, the first question everyone screamed into the void was: who will play Link in the Zelda movie? It's a nightmare of a casting job. Truly.
Think about it. Link isn’t just a character; he’s a vessel for the player. He barely speaks. He has to look boyish but also like he could take down a literal demon god with a rusty broadsword. If they pick someone too famous, it breaks the immersion. If they pick an unknown, the studio might worry about the box office. We are currently in a weird limbo where everyone from Tom Holland to some random 19-year-old on TikTok is being scrutinized under a microscope.
Honestly, the stakes couldn't be higher for Nintendo. After the massive success of the Mario movie, they know they have a goldmine. But Zelda is different. It’s not a cartoonish romp; it’s an epic. Getting the face of the Hero of Time right is the difference between a Lord of the Rings-level masterpiece and a total disaster that fans will bring up in therapy for years.
The "Spider-Man" Elephant in the Room
Let’s just address the Tom Holland rumors immediately. Ever since a fake "leaked" poster made the rounds on Facebook years ago, people have been convinced he’s the frontrunner. It makes sense on paper, right? He’s athletic, he’s got the right build, and Sony is producing the film. Holland is Sony’s golden boy.
But here’s the thing: most Zelda fans would probably riot.
It’s not that Holland is a bad actor. He’s great. It’s just that he’s everywhere. When you see him, you see Peter Parker or Nathan Drake. To make a Zelda movie work, you need to disappear into Hyrule. You need a Link who feels like he actually grew up in a forest or a knight’s academy, not someone we just saw at the last three Marvel premieres.
The Case for an Unknown Actor
There’s a very strong argument that the best person to play Link in the Zelda movie is someone we’ve never heard of. Wes Ball, the director, has experience with this. He directed The Maze Runner, where he worked with a young, relatively fresh-faced cast.
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Casting an unknown allows the audience to see the character, not the celebrity.
Imagine a 19-year-old with a background in gymnastics or fencing. Someone who can handle the physical demands of the role without needing a stunt double for a basic roll-and-slash. Link's physicality is his dialogue. He speaks through his movements—the way he grips the Master Sword, the look of sheer determination when he's staring down a Lynel. You need an actor who can emote through their eyes because, let's be real, if Link starts cracking MCU-style quips every five minutes, the fans will walk out.
Why Jacob Elordi or Walker Scobell Keep Popping Up
The internet loves a fancast. Currently, two names are dominating the conversation for very different reasons.
First, there’s Walker Scobell. If you’ve seen Percy Jackson and the Olympians or The Adam Project, you know this kid has "it." He’s young enough to play the Ocarina of Time or Wind Waker era Link, and he actually looks like the character. He has that slightly mischievous but brave vibe. The downside? He might be too young if Wes Ball is going for a more mature, Twilight Princess or Breath of the Wild aesthetic.
Then there’s the Jacob Elordi camp.
This is where the "pretty boy Link" fans live. Elordi is massive—he’s like 6'5". Link is traditionally... well, short. Or at least average height. Seeing a Link who towers over everyone else would feel weird. But the argument for Elordi is that he has the "elfin" facial features that could be translated into a Hylian look with the right prosthetic ears.
The Silent Protagonist Problem
One of the biggest hurdles for whoever ends up being who will play Link in the Zelda movie is the voice. Or the lack thereof.
In the games, Link is famously silent. He grunts, he yells "HYAH!", and he gasps when he falls off a cliff. But a two-hour live-action movie where the lead doesn't speak is a massive risk. It worked for Mad Max: Fury Road, sure, but that’s a very specific kind of film.
There are basically three ways they can handle this:
- The Pure Silence: They lean into it. Link communicates through gestures and expressions. This requires a world-class physical actor.
- The Limited Dialogue: He speaks, but only when it’s absolutely necessary. He’s a man of few words, a stoic warrior.
- The Full Talker: They give him a standard script. This is the most likely "Hollywood" route, and also the one most likely to annoy the die-hard fans.
If they go with option three, the actor's voice becomes just as important as their look. They can't have a deep, gravelly Batman voice, but they also can't sound like a generic teenager. It’s a delicate balance.
What Wes Ball has Hinted At
Wes Ball hasn't given us a name yet. Obviously. But he has talked about his vision. He’s mentioned a "live-action Miyazaki" feel. That is a huge clue. Miyazaki films—think Princess Mononoke or Spirited Away—are all about atmosphere, nature, and a certain kind of quiet wonder.
If that’s the vibe, then the casting for Link is going to lean toward someone who looks "of the earth." Not a polished Hollywood star with veneers and a spray tan. We’re looking for someone who can look slightly disheveled, covered in Hylian dirt, and still look heroic.
Ball also mentioned he wants the film to be "grounded." To me, that suggests we aren't getting a stylized, CGI-heavy Link. We’re getting a real person in a real forest. This points away from the "pretty boy" fancasts and toward someone with a bit more grit.
The "Hylian Look" is Harder than it Looks
Finding someone who can pull off those ears without looking like they’re wearing a cheap Halloween costume is a challenge. Hylians aren't exactly elves, but they aren't exactly humans either. They have a specific, slightly ethereal quality.
This is why some fans have suggested actors like Nicholas Hoult (maybe a bit too old now) or even Hunter Schafer (for a more androgynous, Breath of the Wild look). Link has always had a gender-neutral appeal. He’s pretty, but he’s a warrior. Any actor who takes the role has to be comfortable with that duality.
Shigeru Miyamoto’s Involvement
Don't forget that Shigeru Miyamoto is producing. He is notoriously protective of his characters. He famously hated the 1993 Mario movie so much it took decades for him to allow another one.
Miyamoto’s presence is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it ensures the movie stays true to the "soul" of Zelda. On the other, it might mean the casting is very conservative. Miyamoto might prefer a Japanese actor or someone who fits a very specific, traditional image of the character that doesn't align with Western movie star trends.
The Impact of the Casting Announcement
Whenever the news finally breaks regarding who will play Link in the Zelda movie, the internet will probably break. There is no world where 100% of the fans are happy.
If it’s a big star, people will complain about "stunt casting."
If it’s an unknown, people will complain that they "don't have the star power" to carry the franchise.
But we should look at recent successes. The Last of Us cast Bella Ramsey as Ellie. Fans hated it at first. Then the show came out, and everyone realized she was perfect. The same happened with Heath Ledger as the Joker. We have to trust the process, even if the initial name makes us scratch our heads.
Practical Next Steps for Fans
While we wait for the official press release from Nintendo and Sony, here is how you can stay ahead of the curve and separate fact from fiction:
- Watch the Trades: Only trust news from Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, or Deadline. If you see a "Link cast" announcement on a random TikTok or a site called "GamingRumors123," it’s almost certainly fake.
- Follow Wes Ball on Social Media: Directors often drop subtle hints about their inspirations or the "vibe" they are looking for during pre-production.
- Look at "Shortlists": Before a casting is official, "shortlists" often leak to the trades. These are usually accurate lists of the final 3-5 actors being considered.
- Revisit the Games: If you want to understand the "Miyazaki" vibe Ball mentioned, go play Breath of the Wild or watch Princess Mononoke. It’ll give you a better idea of the "type" of actor they are actually looking for.
The search for Link is more than just finding a guy in a green tunic. It’s about finding someone who can carry the weight of a thirty-year legacy on their shoulders while barely saying a word. Whether it’s a newcomer or a household name, they’re stepping into one of the most iconic roles in history. We just have to hope they’re ready for the journey.