Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, the young actor cast as Link in the upcoming live-action Legend of Zelda film, missed the opportunity to play Breath of the Wild when it launched in 2017—a significant entry in the franchise's 40-year legacy. At just eight years old during the game's release, Ainsworth didn't own a Nintendo Switch and instead watched playthroughs to experience the game, though this experience remained secondhand compared to actually playing it himself.

Since then, Ainsworth has studied the broader Zelda universe to prepare for his role, familiarising himself with the franchise's four decades of history, varied storytelling styles, and different portrayals of the character. The live-action adaptation, directed by Wes Ball (known for Maze Runner and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes) and filmed largely in New Zealand, is scheduled for release on April 30, 2027, whilst Nintendo plans to release an Ocarina of Time remake for the Switch 2 in 2026.