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Credit: Inside the MagicAn X (Twitter) user has shared a violent and hateful post targeting The Legend of Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto following last week’s announcement that the upcoming live-action film had landed its two lead stars, British actors Bo Bragason and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth.
On July 16, Miyamoto shared a tweet announcing Bragason and Ainsworth, who will play Princess Zelda and Link, respectively, in the big-screen adaptation of the video game series:
“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)”
宮本です。「ゼルダの伝説」の実写映画は、ゼルダ役をBo Bragasonさん、リンク役をBenjamin Evan Ainsworthさんに演じていただくことになりました。おふたりの出演が今から楽しみです。「ゼルダの伝説」実写映画は2027年5⽉7⽇に劇場公開予定です。もうしばらくお待ちください。 pic.twitter.com/jctWHvvYgi
— 任天堂株式会社 (@Nintendo) July 16, 2025
Some Fans Aren’t Happy with the Zelda Casting
Countless fans of the long-running Zelda video game series, which began way back in 1986, praised the dual casting, not only because of the likeness the actors share with their respective characters, but also because they’re both relatively unknown talents.
However, there has been a huge amount of discourse surrounding the casting of Bragason, with many other fans expressing their disappointment at Nintendo for not choosing trans actor Hunter Schafer, known for her roles in Euphoria and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, after she was “fan-cast” into the role of Princess Zelda in 2023.
But it seems Schafer was never actually in talks to play Zelda. Despite rumors shared by an industry insider, the conversation seemingly amounts to nothing more than a fan-cast. Either way, many aren’t satisfied–although others are happy that Zelda, a female character, will be played by a cisgender woman rather than a trans person who identifies as female.
Related: ‘Zelda’ Movie Is Nothing Like ‘LOTR,’ Director Says, “Teasers” Reveal Real Inspiration
One Fan Calls for the Death of Zelda Creator
Sadly, there has been plenty of toxic behavior from both sides of the fandom, with some hurling disgusting transphobic slurs at Schafer and the wider trans community. However, one comment posted on X (Twitter) has picked up a lot of attention as the user calls for the death of Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto for not casting Schafer into the role.
While the post has since been deleted by the user @rakuyo_vlblood/Rosaria’s Middle Finger (it seems the account has been removed from the platform), it read: “hunter schafer should be allowed to kill miyamoto” and was in response to a tweet announcing the official casting.
User @MasteroftheTDS re-tweeted the original post, saying that the “Hunter Schafer discourse has gotten out of hand” and that Nintendo isn’t “obligated” to indulge fan-castings:
This Hunter Schafer discourse has gotten out of hand. They are not obligated to make your fan casting reality
This Hunter Schafer discourse has gotten out of hand.
They are not obligated to make your fan casting reality. pic.twitter.com/H1mvI29kph
— MasteroftheTDS (@MasteroftheTDS) July 17, 2025
Unsurprisingly, this has only fanned the flames of the online discourse, which, at the moment, shows no signs of abating.
Why Is Nintendo Making a Live-Action Zelda Movie?
The thought of a live-action Zelda film doesn’t sit well with fans who feel protective over the beloved franchise. However, after the success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which grossed $1.361 billion worldwide in 2023, Nintendo wasted no time in announcing that it was developing a big-screen adaptation of another one of its incredibly popular video games.
The Legend of Zelda is being directed by Wes Ball (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes) and developed under Sony Pictures, who will co-finance and distribute it worldwide.
The film releases in theaters on May 7, 2027.
Are you excited about The Legend of Zelda? What do you think about all the controversy? Let us know in the comments down below!