Deadline has reported new casting details for the upcoming live-action Legend of Zelda movie, including confirmation that the late actor Sam Neill filmed a role in the film before his death. Neill, best known for playing Dr. Alan Grant in Jurassic Park, died in July at age 78. According to the reports, the New Zealand-born actor completed filming an as-yet-unnamed role in the movie, which may end up being one of his final on-screen performances.
The reports also confirm several other cast additions. Severance actor Dichen Lachman will play Impa, the Sheikah bodyguard to the Hyrule royal family, a role fans had speculated about after she appeared in leaked set photos. Yvonne Strahovski, known for Dexter, Mass Effect 2, and The Handmaid's Tale, has been cast as a queen character, though her specific character has not been named — some speculation suggests she could play Zelda's mother. Kotaku additionally reports that Young Rock actor Uli Latukefu will play the series antagonist Ganondorf, though he has not yet been shown in costume.
Neill's character also remains unrevealed by Nintendo and Sony Pictures. Polygon and Kotaku both note speculation that he could be playing the King of Hyrule, though this has not been confirmed.
These new additions join previously announced cast members Bo Bragason as Princess Zelda and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link. The film is a joint project between Nintendo and Sony Pictures, produced by Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto alongside Sony veteran Avi Arad. Filming wrapped in spring 2026, and the movie is set to release in theaters on April 30, 2027.
Limited additional details about the film have been shared publicly. Leaked set photos have shown filming took place in a wooded outdoor location, depicting a scene where Impa appears to counsel Zelda. Director Wes Ball has said he intends for the film to have a more "grounded" and "real" style, and Ainsworth's separate performance in House of the Dragon Season 3 has reportedly reassured fans who were initially skeptical of his casting as Link.