The Legend of Zelda Begins Filming in NZ This November

Filming will begin on 4 November 2025, running through 7 April 2026, with the Wellington region transforming into the kingdom of Hyrule.

With direction by Wes Ball (The Maze Runner, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes) and a script by Derek Connolly (Jurassic World, Detective Pikachu), the project is being produced by Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto, Avi Arad, Joe Hartwick Jr., and Ball himself. The film is the first in a planned trilogy and aims to bring the beloved video game series to life with cinematic depth.

The film will retell the classic Zelda premise with cinematic depth: Link, a courageous but reluctant young warrior, must protect the kingdom of Hyrule from the warlord Ganon, who seeks the all-powerful Triforce. Along the way, Link will face monstrous enemies, solve ancient puzzles, and forge an unlikely alliance with Princess Zelda - a heroine in her own right.

But this isn’t just a pixel-for-pixel remake of a video game. The creative team promises a character-driven, emotionally resonant story, marrying the epic scope of a fantasy quest with the personal stakes of a coming-of-age journey.

The tone? Think The Lord of the Rings meets Harry Potter, with a touch of Studio Ghibli’s emotional sincerity. And the look? Practical sets blended with VFX, moody lighting, and a lived-in fantasy world that will feel both magical and tactile.

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