The Legend of Zelda movie cast takes shape: Sam Neill, Ganondorf, and two new faces confirmed

The Legend of Zelda live-action film is coming together fast. Deadline reports that the late Sam Neill filmed scenes before his death on July 13, 2026, making the Nintendo and Sony production likely one of his final on-screen appearances. Filming wrapped in April in New Zealand — Neill's home country — months before he passed away from pneumonia in Sydney at age 78.

Three more cast members have now been reported alongside Neill's posthumous role. Uli Latukefu, the Australian actor best known for playing a young Dwayne Johnson in Young Rock, lands the villain role of Ganondorf — Deadline adds he signed a multi-movie deal. Dichen Lachman, known from Severance, and Yvonne Strahovski of The Handmaid's Tale are also joining in roles not yet specified, though set photos have led to speculation that Lachman may be playing Impa. They join previously confirmed leads Bo Bragason as Zelda and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link. Producer Shigeru Miyamoto has said the team is "working hard to deliver the film to everyone as soon as possible."

The film is directed by Wes Ball, whose credits include Maze Runner and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Marvel veteran Avi Arad is also producing alongside Miyamoto. Neill, who built a career across decades of genre cinema — Jurassic Park, Event Horizon, In the Mouth of Madness — will also appear posthumously in Godzilla x Kong: Supernova and The Last Resort in 2027. None of his Zelda casting has been officially confirmed by Sony, but Deadline's report has not been disputed.

The Legend of Zelda hits theaters on April 30, 2027. For fans eager for something sooner, a remake of Ocarina of Time for Switch 2 is still on track for later this year.