Yardbarker
x

Legend of Zelda Live‑Action Taps New Zealand’s Legendary Middle‑earth Locations

Originally posted on Total Apex Entertainment
By Shay Hobbs  |  Last updated Apr 7, 2026 6:57 PM ET

Originally announced in Nov. 2023 by Nintendo, the live-action “Legend of Zelda,” featuring Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link and Bo Bragason as Zelda, has been spotted shooting scenes in one of the most outstanding scenic locations for fantasy-style world-building. None other than the lush landscape of the Glenorchy region in Otago, New Zealand, known by fans as the place where the epic story about the ring to rule them all was captured.

Fantasy Unfolds As The Legend Grows

It would seem the production team of the live-action adaptation may be following another titan of fantasy’s footsteps. The popular Nintendo video game series, “The Legend of Zelda,” may be following the well-worn path of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. Many have been waiting on the edge of their seats for drips of news, from excitement over the casting of Ainsworth and Bragason to the backdrops they were captured in for the reveals. 

CBR came in with the scoop on the production location, Otago, New Zealand. The small town of Glenorchy looks and feels like it could very well be the mystical landscape of a fantastic fantasy setting, with a plethora of natural beauty to bolster the movie to higher heights. It was its scenic combination of rivers, terrain, and mountains that made it ideal for “The Lord of the Rings'” Middle-earth. New Zealand even has a website page from the Department of Conservation, dedicated to listing locations which include Otago. 

While others might wonder why this is perfect for the world of “The Legend of Zelda,” you need look no further than the many rivers and mountains in Hyrule, making it the obvious and most idyllic spot with a stunningly picturesque aesthetic to match the hillsides of Hyrule. It was these specifics that made it so appealing to the creation of the movies following the story of our favorite hobbits on a path to destroy the ring once and for all.

The Creative Power Behind Zelda’s World‑Building

Image of Zelda movie, courtesy of Nintendo

While the beauty of nature may do some lifting, the real heavyweight champion of the emerging epic could very well fall on the shoulders of the director. Wes Ball, known for the “Maze Runner” trilogy as well as “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” has moved away from motion-capture and returned to his roots in the Zelda series. Ball looks to breathe life into the first installment of Hyrule by using New Zealand’s natural beauty to make it feel more real than simply something digitally created.

Entertainment Weekly had an interview with director Ball, where he admits to being a major fan of “The Legend of Zelda.” In his admission of star-struckedness, he said he wanted to see a live-action Miyazaki, being an admirer of “Spirited Away.” He wants to bring about the wonder and whimsy that the animator brings to the screen. Ball has promised fans that this movie is going to be awesome, having grown up with the Zelda franchise. Ball, at the time, was in New Zealand doing postproduction for Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, which was released May 10, 2024.

It would appear that Ball has had the dream of bringing the world of Hyrule to the silver screen for a very long time, having tweeted his hope for the future in 2010.

Waiting For “The Legend of Zelda” Release

As of April 2026, the photography done in Glenorchy and Paradise is wrapping up. This will bring everything into the post-production phase, which is a good sign for the intended release. With over a year to master their conquest of the most epic retelling of Hyrule’s hero, Link, and the Hyrulian Princess, Zelda, the timeline gives production and editing all the time they need to finalize the musical tones for the scenes and digital retouching where necessary.

With the release to theaters planned for May 7, 2027, it may feel far off from now, but the wait will be well worth it if Ball keeps his promise! Those who have been lifelong fans of the game series, or those who found it more recently on the Switch and Switch II, will get to see it on a whole new level next year. As we wait for more news to trickle down, the idea of Bragason and Ainsworth traveling the old Middle-earth will have many excited to see how they use this in Hyrule.

This article first appeared on Total Apex Entertainment and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!