Nintendo has delayed the upcoming live-action The Legend of Zelda movie to 7th May 2027.
In a statement posted on X, Shigeru Miyamoto confirmed that the movie was being delayed "for production reasons". The film's original release date was 26th March 2027, so it's only a few extra weeks.
"It will be some weeks later than the release timing we originally announced, and we will take the extra time to make the film as good as it can be."
The movie was originally announced back in November 2023, with a release date revealed in March 2025 via the Nintendo Today! app.
The movie is being directed by Wes Ball, the man behind the camera on The Maze Runner and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. And, just a few weeks ago, rumours were swirling about the ideal casting for Princess Zelda.
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Are you surprised about the delay? Will you be going to see the movie? Let us know in the comments
[source x.com]
Comments 42
No big deal. Films are delayed all the time.
I think they were scared of Sonic 4 (for some reason)
Or maybe they’re recasting some characters after backlash?
i love how miyamoto just takes control of nintendos account randomly 😂
anyways, im very excuted to hear the casting, i hope the rumours abt hunter schafer playing zelda are true!
Just like for games I don't mind delays if they mean getting a better product (from the get-go in that case, in this one in general since you can't patch movies and at most you can release an improved, separate version on DVD, Blu-Ray etc. later) - anyway, looking forward to finally seeing even just a teaser of this movie instead of only hearing about it whenever they're ready to show it!
It wouldn't be a Zelda film of we didn't expect delays. How can I be immersed in the Zelda universe if they don't say "please understand" a couple of times?
Is it normal to set release dates this far in advance? Give yourself some leeway. Just say Spring 2027.
I wonder if this has anything to do with the discourse surrounding a recent casting rumour...?
this is obviously to make sure they can include Groose in the cast XD
While it is pretty funny this comes just two months after they revealed the initial release date, a delay of under two months isn't anything too crazy. My expectations are fairly low for the movie as of now as I'd much prefer it to be an animated endeavour overall but hey, the Mario Movie was better than I was anticipating so maybe I'll give them the benefit of the doubt for now XD
A small delay, probably just restructuring release strategy. I do wonder when we'll get a cast reveal of the movie though
I love that he had to announce "This is Miyamoto" lmao
Like BoTW, take as much time as you need/want to get to the end. Know what? Go EPIC on the story and make it two parts if you must.
I also expext more time is needed to schedule Chris Pratt.
That's my birthday ahaha!
A delayed film is eventually good, a rushed film is bad forever.
This really is a Zelda movie huh
Wouldn't it be fun if the videogame movies were released with updates over the course of the films run.
As a fan of the franchise, this does not hurt my feelings one bit. (Honestly it wouldn't have hurt my feelings if the project fell through either, again I say this as a fan.)
Now, it's going to release on my birthday, awesome! Guess we'll hear official casting news soon, instead of crappy misleading click bait rumors!
Well hey, a delay can't hurt anything, right?
I have mixed feelings about this one. I keep bouncing between cautiously optimistic/mildly excited to unenthused/kind of dreading it. I'd love to be wrong.
Might just be me but if I'm making what I hope to be a big successful movie of the summer blockbuster variety I'd much rather have it come out in May instead of March.
Also possibly related, 3 weeks ago Avengers Secret Wars got moved from May 7, 2027 to Dec 17, 2027.
https://variety.com/2025/film/news/avengers-delayed-doomsday-secret-wars-december-1236407485/
Coincidence? 🤷♂️
@speed_loafer : Most Hollywood films are 90%+ CGI, so to call this "live action" is already a stretch.
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@Tyranexx Same here honestly. A live-action Zelda movie on the level of something like Lord of the Rings would be super cool to see (and as I've said before, my hopes are a smidge higher thanks to the Mario Movie being a fun time), but the opportunity cost of not doing a fully-animated film for the franchise really stings for me. Like imagine if they got Cartoon Saloon to do a Wind Waker movie for instance 😭
Are they handing off development to Retro Studios now?
@Fizza Maybe we can get both?! 🤞🏻🤞🏻
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This sounds like shiggy has turned up and watched it then said I think we need to add some motion control
@Fizza I really am trying to keep an open mind about it, but I do think this would be better as an animated film (LOVE the idea of Cartoon Saloon doing a movie in TWW/PH/ST's art style!). But who knows? A live action film as well produced and faithful as the LotR trilogy would certainly be welcome. I watched those movies first, then read the books sometime later. The films aren't 1:1, but most of the changes made sense (Not fond of how the films handled Saruman's death though) and cut out a bit of unnecessary fluff.
@Hank_Scorpio Captain America Brave New World says hi. That movie was garbage and was delayed many times.
It's insane that even this article has a lot of transphobia in the comments. Genuinely disheartening that comments like "The rumored casting of Princess Zelda would be suicide for Nintendo! The delay must be because they're going to recast her!"
Even if it's not outright hate, these statements are still heavily laced with hatred. Hurts to read this stuff as a trans woman myself.
@BrokenCiv https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/03/random-is-miyamotos-most-famous-quote-not-his-after-all
@Hank_Scorpio I know where the quote comes from but it also goes to show even Miyamoto is wrong sometimes although he was specifically talking about games. Which I guess goes to show that when it comes to quotes not all are one size fits all?
And Hollywood continues its game of release date musical chairs. 2027 feels far enough away that I'm not really paying attention until we get full casting announcements!
@VoidofLight yeah its rly disappointing i dont like the passive agressiveness here, and also surprising since nintendo has a rich queer history. but hey things hopefully things will get better 😁
Fine by me, the original release date was in a crowded week. It was up against Sonic 4 and King Kong x Godzilla. Now I don't have the pressure of seeing one of them and waiting after or to pay to see. both the same week.
Wouldn't be a Zelda experience if it wasn't delayed.
Films usually only get "delayed" six weeks based on changing a release window. It was originally up against the new Kong/godzilla movie. Six weeks is not a substantial enough break to fundamentally change the movie. I dont think this delay has anything to do with actual production of the movie and they juat want a less competitive opening weekend.
@aughra I think a little of this happened with the second Spiderverse?
The real reason for the delay was Godzilla x Kong opening on the same day, followed by Sonic 4 a few days later. A very busy week for 3 films with huge audience overlap - two is company, three is a crowd.
Movies aren't video games, you don't delay them 6 weeks for a bit of polish and bugfixing. That's very little time to make a film "as good as it can be".
@KayFiOS They wouldn't need 6 more weeks, two years out from the release date to cast a new actress. They won't be filming until 2026.
Nothing I said was inappropriate, it was accurate. As it would be bad for the movie, because of terrible casting.
@Orpheus79V You are 100% correct. I watch a guy called John Campea on Youtube who knows the business really well and he was saying exactly the same thing.
They gotta do some negotiating with Danny DeVito in regards to how much screentime he'll get as Tingle.
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