Now-deleted behind-the-scenes photos for The Legend of Zelda movie hint that the live-action adaptation will take influences from multiple Zelda games rather than directly adapting a singular entry, which might be the best-case scenario for the project.
Looking back to the first official set photos from the Zelda movie, the blue tunic donned by Zelda (played by Bo Bragason) greatly resembles the character's outfit in Breath of the Wild. But a photo initially shared on Instagram by the film's director of photography, Gyula Pados, shows a clapperboard with artwork of Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link in his traditional green tunic, hat and all.
The image of Ainsworth looks like the adult Link we've known since Ocarina of Time, though fans believe that the costume looks more inspired by Twilight Princess than anything. The tunic has a muted green, similar to the darker and more mature aesthetic of Twilight Princess. Additionally, Link is wearing chainmail underneath, which he sported in Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword.
Another photo that Pados prematurely shared online showed crew members in what fans believe to be a set depicting the Temple of Time. Eagle-eyed observers compared elements of the set to the temple's appearance in Ocarina of Time, finding matching symbols and other similar features. Other fans pointed out that the same symbols show up outside of Breath of the Wild's version of the Temple of Time as well. There's also a set photo depicting what looks like desert ruins--perhaps Gerudo Desert?
One of the more curious photos included a drawing of characters appearing to be Zelda, Link, and a Kokiri--Link is holding what looks like the Kokiri Emerald, one of the Spiritual Stones from Ocarina of Time, while the Kokiri is with a fairy, possibly Navi. The drawing is signed "Love Faith," which supports some fan theories that child actress Faith Delaney is part of the film's cast.
To summarize, it looks like the Zelda movie is borrowing heavily from Ocarina of Time, with elements from Twilight Princess and Breath of the Wild. Pulling from several different Zelda games might be ideal for an adaptation--it fits with the larger franchise's formula of retelling similar stories with variables, including different incarnations of Link and Zelda.
It's also a more efficient way to honor the franchise as a whole, as narrowing the project to be a sole adaptation of, say, Breath of the Wild, would be limiting and leave out fans who might have an affinity for older games in the series. It would be closer to the Fallout show, which references several games while crafting its own story, and the apparent opposite of the upcoming God of War show, which skips the classic Ancient Greece games and goes straight for the more recent Norse arc.
On the other hand, plucking elements from several games could have a downside if the Zelda movie is anything like the cameo-stuffed Mario movies--hopefully, the filmmakers restrained themselves from injecting every fan-favorite character and in-joke. The movie needs anything but a moment where the crowd goes wild over a Groose cameo.
However the movie turns out, we'll surely learn more about it closer to its May 7, 2027 premiere date, with the production recently having wrapped filming.
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Looking back to the first official set photos from the Zelda movie, the blue tunic donned by Zelda (played by Bo Bragason) greatly resembles the character's outfit in Breath of the Wild. But a photo initially shared on Instagram by the film's director of photography, Gyula Pados, shows a clapperboard with artwork of Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link in his traditional green tunic, hat and all.
this Legend of Zelda movie clapper featuring Link was posted on Instagram by cinematographer Gyula Pados pic.twitter.com/msdvly13qJ
— Nintendeal (@Nintendeal) April 20, 2026
The image of Ainsworth looks like the adult Link we've known since Ocarina of Time, though fans believe that the costume looks more inspired by Twilight Princess than anything. The tunic has a muted green, similar to the darker and more mature aesthetic of Twilight Princess. Additionally, Link is wearing chainmail underneath, which he sported in Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword.
Another photo that Pados prematurely shared online showed crew members in what fans believe to be a set depicting the Temple of Time. Eagle-eyed observers compared elements of the set to the temple's appearance in Ocarina of Time, finding matching symbols and other similar features. Other fans pointed out that the same symbols show up outside of Breath of the Wild's version of the Temple of Time as well. There's also a set photo depicting what looks like desert ruins--perhaps Gerudo Desert?
Yes https://t.co/HmtWmZ1UBq pic.twitter.com/xVzFjQDFoK
— 𝐙𝐄𝐋𝐃𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓 (@ZeldcastPodcast) April 20, 2026
One of the more curious photos included a drawing of characters appearing to be Zelda, Link, and a Kokiri--Link is holding what looks like the Kokiri Emerald, one of the Spiritual Stones from Ocarina of Time, while the Kokiri is with a fairy, possibly Navi. The drawing is signed "Love Faith," which supports some fan theories that child actress Faith Delaney is part of the film's cast.
To summarize, it looks like the Zelda movie is borrowing heavily from Ocarina of Time, with elements from Twilight Princess and Breath of the Wild. Pulling from several different Zelda games might be ideal for an adaptation--it fits with the larger franchise's formula of retelling similar stories with variables, including different incarnations of Link and Zelda.
It's also a more efficient way to honor the franchise as a whole, as narrowing the project to be a sole adaptation of, say, Breath of the Wild, would be limiting and leave out fans who might have an affinity for older games in the series. It would be closer to the Fallout show, which references several games while crafting its own story, and the apparent opposite of the upcoming God of War show, which skips the classic Ancient Greece games and goes straight for the more recent Norse arc.
On the other hand, plucking elements from several games could have a downside if the Zelda movie is anything like the cameo-stuffed Mario movies--hopefully, the filmmakers restrained themselves from injecting every fan-favorite character and in-joke. The movie needs anything but a moment where the crowd goes wild over a Groose cameo.
However the movie turns out, we'll surely learn more about it closer to its May 7, 2027 premiere date, with the production recently having wrapped filming.
Source