Nintendo delays Zelda live-action film

Nintendo has officially postponed the premiere of its highly anticipated live-action The Legend of Zelda film, the company confirmed today.

In a social media statement released this afternoon, gaming icon Shigeru Miyamoto explained the team requires "additional development time" to refine the film's quality.

Originally scheduled for March 26, 2027, the movie will now debut on May 7, 2027—taking the release slot previously occupied by Marvel's delayed Avengers: Secret Wars.

"This is Miyamoto," begins the official announcement. "Due to production considerations, we're adjusting the premiere date for The Legend of Zelda live-action adaptation to May 7, 2027."

"While this represents a slight delay from our initial timeline, we're dedicating this extended period to perfecting every aspect of the film. We appreciate your continued patience and support."

Though Nintendo didn't specify reasons behind the schedule change, securing Marvel's former Avengers release window strategically positions the Zelda adaptation while avoiding competing with major franchises originally slated for March.

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The previous March release date would have pitted Zelda against Godzilla x Kong: Supernova while following closely behind Sonic The Hedgehog 4's March 19 premiere. Avengers: Secret Wars has since been rescheduled for December 17, 2027.

With approximately two years remaining until its theatrical debut, details about Nintendo's Zelda movie remain scarce. Casting announcements have yet to be made, and plot specifics remain under wraps.

First revealed in November 2023, the film represents a collaboration between Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto and Avi Arad, former Marvel Studios chief. Sony Pictures Entertainment will co-finance and distribute the project. Jurassic World screenwriter Derek Connolly is crafting the script, while Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes director Wes Ball helms the adaptation.

In May 2024, Ball clarified that creating a fully motion-captured Zelda film "wouldn't be his preferred approach" following his work on the CGI-intensive Planet of the Apes sequel. Instead, he envisions The Legend of Zelda maintaining a "believable" yet "cinematic" quality.

"My goal is to exceed fans' highest expectations," Ball shared in another project interview. "I recognize this franchise's profound significance to its community, and I'm committed to delivering a substantive cinematic experience—one that offers genuine escapism while balancing seriousness, spectacle, and that signature Zelda charm."