Hey, hey, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here. Today marks the third Geekly Casting post we’ve made with the new format, and the movie we’re casting today is the upcoming live-action Legend of Zelda movie. We almost have another two years before this movie releases in theaters, but that doesn’t mean we can’t speculate who should play each role. As usual, I’ll kick off this post with modern actors, and then Skye will step in with some historical actors for a dream casting. Feel free to share who you think should portray the characters in the upcoming live-action Legend of Zelda movie.
The Legend of Zelda doesn’t have as many recurring characters as other video game franchises, but we’ll need to set up a few ground rules before determining which roles to cast. Namely, which Legend of Zelda games will comprise the characters for the movie’s script?
Our resident movie geek, Skye, who has also happened to play most Legend of Zelda games, and I narrowed the games to Ocarina of Time and Breath of the Wild. Most moviegoers will know Breath of the Wild (along with Tears of the Kingdom, Breath of the Wild is the most recent Zelda video game duology), while Ocarina of Time is one of the first classic Zelda games that added a healthy dose of mythology. Both are stellar games. We couldn’t decide on one over the other, but the Legend of Zelda movie could pull from more than one video game. Let’s merge Ocarina of Time and Breath of the Wild.
Note: Kyra Kyle wrote their segment well before the official Legend of Zelda movie cast its Link and Zelda. They chose to keep their original actors in their roles instead of listing who got cast. Oh. What could’ve been?
Young Adult Link: Morgan Davies
Morgan Davies is a young actor with many high-profile roles in his short career. Danny from Evil Dead Rise and Koby from the Netflix live-action One Piece series top his resume. With his experience, Morgan Davies should have no problem pulling off a twenty-something Link. It doesn’t matter if the Legend of Zelda’s director chooses for Link to be a silent protagonist (like early-era Zelda games) or if Link will have a speaking role. Davies has the talent and the look for Link. He also pairs well (in age) with who I have planned for Princess Zelda.
I know. I know. Morgan Davies is one half of the Link/Zelda meme that’s going around, and I’m going with the other half, too. This pairing is too perfect.
Princess Zelda: Hunter Schafer
Yes! I went with Hunter Schafer as Princess Zelda. She looks just like her. I couldn’t believe those were her actual ears. I love it. Schafer also has a small but impressive experience. Tigris Snow in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes and Jules Vaughn in Euphoria top her resume. She’s an actress with the ability and the look to pull off the title character, Princess Zelda. I don’t care if Hunter Schafer as Princess Zelda is a meme at this point. Schafer, in this role, makes too much sense. Make this happen, Nintendo.
Ganon/Ganondorf: Sterling K. Brown
I cast Sterling K. Brown in a lot of different roles. That’s because the This Is Us actor is phenomenal, and I’d love to see him in just about anything. Sterling K. Brown will bring a layered approach to the role of Ganon or Ganondorf (depending on which Legend of Zelda story the movie chooses). My fear is that Ganon could be boiled down to a cardboard cutout villain. Sterling K. Brown wouldn’t let that happen. He’d give us a Ganon performance for the ages.
Young Link: Christian Convery
I’m including Christian Convery as Young Link because the main game mechanism in Ocarina of Time is that Link goes back to when he’s a child. We may need a Young Link. Christian Convery (star of the Netflix series Sweet Tooth) looks like a young Morgan Davies and could hold his own as an actor, but he could age out of the role. Young Link is definitely one of those roles you could cast an unknown.
Impa: Michelle Yeoh
The incomparable Michelle Yeoh would make a great Impa at any age. Impa is one of those characters whose age varies greatly from one Legend of Zelda game to the next. Everything, Everywhere, All at Once’s Yeoh has had plenty of experience portraying action roles (at various ages) and has the acting chops to pull off one of Princess Zelda’s loyal protectors. My only doubt in casting Yeoh as Impa is that it could be seen as typecasting. But I love Impa as a character, and Yeoh would be fantastic in this role.
Saria: Maisie Williams
Saria is one of the first sages Link meets during Ocarina of Time. She’s even the sage who presents Link with his very own fairy, Navi. More on Navi in a minute. Maisie Williams has plenty of history acting in a fantasy setting. See her work as Arya in Game of Thrones. Williams has a knack for playing characters who defy social norms. Saria is the only sage to stand up for Link when Mido spread rumors that Link was responsible for the Great Deku Tree’s death. Saria is added in sealing away Ganon during the Ocarina of Time’s finale.
Navi: Awkwafina
I’m doing this one for the LOLs. Many argue that Awkwafina gets cast as a voice actor far too often. In fact, she was in ten animated movies or television shows in two years. Some people claim that Awkwafina getting cast in yet another voice acting role would be so annoying. Enter Navi, one of the most annoying characters in video game history. Hey! Listen! Can you hear Awkwafina screaming, Hey, Listen over and over again? I can. It’s hilarious.
Skull Kid: Elliot Page
There’s a debate as to whether Skull Kid makes an appearance in Ocarina of Time or not. Even if you believe Skull Kid doesn’t appear in Ocarina of Time, you can always tease the antagonist of a future Zelda movie by giving Skull Kid (the main antagonist during the events of Majora’s Mask) a cameo. Over his long, illustrious career, we haven’t seen Elliot Page portray too many villains. Page could make for a great dark and twisted version of Link.
Riju: Lana Condor
Lana Condor made her acting debut as Jubilee in the X-Men film franchise, but she gained international stardom with the All the Boys series. Despite Riju being one of the youngest leaders in Breath of the Wild, she rules with kindness and wisdom beyond her years. Lana Condor has built a solid resume that shows her versatility. She’ll need to tap into all of that experience while playing Riju.
Mipha: Auli’i Cravalho
Mipha rules a tribe of half-human, half-dolphin species. Reserved and introverted, Mipha is fiercely loyal to her friends, especially Link. In fact, during events in Breath of the Wild, Mipha insists that she and Link schedule some one-on-one time after the final battle. Auli’i Cravalho got her big break as the voice actor behind Moana. She’s kept busy in Hollywood and Broadway as a triple-threat (acting, singing, and dancing). Cravlho could easily pull off the strong but kind Mipha.
Revali: Dan Levy
Humanoid bird Revali will be full CGI, so it doesn’t matter if the actor portraying him looks similar to the character. Revali’s temperament is more in play. The champion of the Rito tribe is arrogant and has a sardonic outward personality, especially when he’s around Link. Dan Levy could easily pull off such a character, and he gets extra points because Revali looks like he’s a fully transformed version of Moira Rose’s (Catherine O’Hara’s) role in The Crowening, which is a reference to Dan Levy’s television mother in Schitt’s Creek.
Prince Sidon: Lamorne Morris
Lamorne Morris may be too old to portray Prince Sidon, but this role will use heavy CGI. That means that it matters if Morris’s vibe matches Sidon. The prince of the Zora people is enthusiastic and sees the sunny side of situations. That reminds me of Morris’s character on New Girl. He brings energy to all of his roles and would make a fantastic Prince Sidon.
Urbosa: Laverne Cox
Champion of the Gerudo, Urbosa is an imposing figure. Tall, slender, and muscular, Urbosa’s frame doesn’t match her personality. She’s a gentle and kind leader who only uses her strength and combat prowess when needed. Orange is the New Blacks’ Laverne Cox would make a perfect Urbosa. Laverne Cox deserves to be in more franchises. Watching her act opposite Sterling K. Brown’s Ganon would be a joy.
That’s all I have for my Legend of Zelda casting. Let’s see what Skye has in store.
Skye’s Picks
The choices I made for this casting call were my trickiest yet. In the past, the roles I’ve cast have been well-developed with complex backstories and personalities. For The Legend of Zelda, the characters aren’t “people” so much as “archetypes.” Not that I dislike these characters, but being a symbol as opposed to a person makes it harder for me to find people to fill these roles. I’m happy with the choices I made, but wow. I spent way longer on this than any sane person should have. Either way, these are my choices.
Link: Josh Hutcherson
Link was the last role I filled. It took me a while to figure out who could be both young enough and old enough to pull off Link’s look while having enough acting experience for a non-speaking role. In the end, Josh Hutcherson felt like a good choice. He’s been acting since he was a child and at an age where he can pass as a young adult. That’s perfect for Link. Also, if the filmmakers decided to keep Link mute, Hutcherson has the expressions and body language to come across as strong and stoic.
Zelda: Hunter Schafer
Zelda was the easiest role for me to cast. I had heard talk online about the possibility of Hunter Schafer playing Zelda, and I was on board as soon as I saw her. Just look at her. That’s not an actress playing Zelda, that’s literally Zelda. Case closed. I knew that Kyra Kyle was going to choose her for this role as well, so I spent a while considering who else I thought could fit this role. In the end, I just couldn’t find anyone. Hunter Schafer is living proof of the existence of the Goddess Hylia.
Ganon/Ganondorf: Alan Rickman (Posthumously)
Ganon was an interesting role to cast. I’m unsure which version of Zelda the film will be based on, but Alan Rickman could’ve made a great Ganon in more ways than one. If they’re going for a ruthless monster, Alan Rickman could’ve done it. If they’re going for a sly, calculating Ganondorf, Alan Rickman would’ve been amazing. In more ways than one, Alan Rickman could’ve given us a layered and interesting villain with his interpretation of Ganon/Ganondorf. Unfortunately, we’ll never see it. Rest in peace.
Young Link: (Young) Haley Joel Osment
Haley Joel Osment was the go-to child actor back in the 90s. He had loads of experience as a young actor. Given that, I don’t think he ever did a non-speaking role, so the possibility of Haley Joel Osment as Young Link could’ve been attention-getting. To me, he exudes the energy of having a lot of potential, hidden wisdom, and a good heart, which is exactly what you want for Young Link. Can I live in the timeline where Haley Joel Osment plays Young Link?
Impa: Uma Thurman
Impa has been portrayed in a variety of different ways in the Zelda series. If the filmmakers decide to go the route of Ocarina of Time, Uma Thurman would be a great Impa. Given her experience in several movie roles over her prolific career, Thurman could easily pass as the attendant/protector/guide of Princess Zelda. With Thurman’s expertise as a character actress, I have no doubt she could pull off a wise, measured, and strong character like Impa.
Saria: Mara Wilson
Mara Wilson is yet another prolific 90s child actor. I’m not going to act like every role she had in her heyday was great, but Wilson brought a Saria-esque energy to each of them. Although I have more confidence that she could play Saria now than before. Since The Legend of Zelda’s story is constantly in flux, I’m sure the writers could find an excuse for Saria to be older than she originally appeared in Ocarina of Time. That’s what I like about Zelda. Just look at that side-by-side. Need I say more?
Navi: Tress MacNeille
Speaking of having fun with things, Navi was my favorite role to cast. After hearing Kyra Kyle’s choice for the role, I thought it made a lot of sense. I gave it some thought, and I feel like I found another comedically inclined actress. Putting Tress MacNeille’s experience aside, she has the comedic chops and vocals to add a much-needed sense of levity to the film. While Navi is known for her pesky nature, Tress MacNeille could be a great balance of funny, annoying, and lovable.
Skull Kid: (Young) Jim Carrey
On the surface, I think it’s unlikely for the filmmakers to go the Majora’s Mask route. It’s a bit too niche of a Zelda title and not emblematic of the whole series. However, a young Jim Carrey would make a great Skull Kid if they did. Since Skull Kid’s face is rarely shown, much of his personality would come through his physicality, and that screams young Jim Carrey to me. He could pull off a combination of funny, mischievous, creepy, and dramatic all in one role. Also, the fact he’d be wearing a mask would be a fun in-joke to his 1994 film, The Mask.
Riju: Naomi Scott
I don’t care for the 2019 Aladdin. Who does? However, Naomi Scott as Jasmine is a notable strength of the film. Scott showed dedication to her craft despite a lack of script support, and making her Riju in The Legend of Zelda movie could give her a real chance to shine. Riju, as the chieftain of the Gerudo Tribe, has a fearless disposition and commands authority. Since Riju recently became chieftain, Naomi Scott could convey that, despite her inexperience, Riju is trying her best.
Mipha: Tami Stronach
It’s been a minute since I’ve played Breath of the Wild and, by proxy, seen what Mipha looks like. After I saw images of her, I couldn’t get the thought of The Child-Like Empress from NeverEnding Story out of my head. So, I’m going with Tami Stronach as Mipha. As time has passed, Stronach has accepted more producing roles, but she does act here and there. Since she defined what royalty looked like for one generation, she could do the same for another as Mipha.
Revali: Jeremy Renner
There isn’t much explanation behind my choice of Jeremy Renner as Revali. Even in Breath of the Wild, Revali didn’t get much development or an identity. He was the ancient champion of the Rito (bird) tribe. He’d likely be created through make-up, CGI, or a combination of the two. Pretty much any actor who plays Revali would work. It’s funny for me to imagine Jeremy Renner getting typecast as a bow user. That’s the only reason I picked Renner. Tee-hee!
Prince Sidon: (Young) Ryan Gosling
When I imagine the character of Prince Sidon, he’s the goofball partner who enriches your adventure while having your back. That’s why I couldn’t help but imagine a younger Ryan Gosling in this role. Back in the day, Gosling had a way of portraying characters with likable personalities, charming relationships, and a comedic edge. Gosling still has those capabilities, but a younger version of him would be a better fit for this role. Sidon is also meant to be Mipha’s younger brother.
Urbosa: Padma Lakshmi
Unfortunately, Padma Lakshmi doesn’t have many mainstream roles today, but the Urbosa role has her written all over it. As the ancient champion of the Gerudo Tribe, Urbosa is a gallant, stalwart, and authoritative fighter. Urbosa has the strength, finesse, and know-how to bring her enemies to their knees, and that’s why I can’t help but imagine Padma Lakshmi as her. While Lakshmi’s age may put limits on what she’s physically capable of, her personality is perfect. It would also be great to see her in another mainstream film.
Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here again. Those are our picks for the upcoming Legend of Zelda movie. Who would you cast in these roles? Heck, would add anyone else to this cast of characters? Let us know in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
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