Sam Neill filmed role in Legend of Zelda film adaptation before his death
Developed over time first seen 2 months ago
Sam Neill completed filming a role in the forthcoming live-action adaptation of The Legend of Zelda before his death from pneumonia last month, aged 78. The film will therefore be among the New Zealand actor’s final screen appearances and marks the first cinema adaptation of Nintendo’s long-running game series.
The production finished filming in April and is due to be released next May, although Neill’s role has not been disclosed; fans have speculated he may play the King of Hyrule. Zelda has sold an estimated 170–190 million copies since its 1986 debut, while Benjamin Evan Ainsworth and Bo Bragason play Link and Princess Zelda, with Wes Ball directing.
- Sam Neill completed a Zelda film role before his death.
- The live-action film is due next May.
- Neill’s character has not been announced.
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The Legend of Zelda is a fantasy adventure series created by the Japanese video game company Nintendo. It usually follows Link, a young hero, as he travels through the kingdom of Hyrule to protect Princess Zelda and confront threats to the land.
The games first appeared in 1986 and have become one of Nintendo’s best-known franchises, with many titles set in different versions of Hyrule. Its characters, stories and music have a large international following, but the series has not previously been adapted for cinemas.
The new film is a live-action version, meaning its characters and settings will be portrayed by actors and physical or computer-created sets rather than animation. Wes Ball is the director, while Benjamin Evan Ainsworth and Bo Bragason have been cast as Link and Princess Zelda.