The internet is lighting up after several leaked clips from the set of Nintendo and Sony’s live-action The Legend of Zelda movie popped up online.For the first time, fans get a real look at what’s coming: Link, Zelda, and, unexpectedly, a third character who looks a lot like Impa. Turns out, they are filming in New Zealand, which people guessed for ages, but now it’s finally confirmed. These behind-the-scenes shots landed way before any official images or trailers, and fans are already buzzing with excitement and arguing over every detail.Nintendo is keeping a tight lid as far as the cast and the story are concerned, but the new pieces of footage give the audience the first glimpse of the costumes, the characters, and the film’s atmosphere.To begin with, the audience was somehow uncertain if the video was real, as many suspected it was either AI-generated or just fake. However, all elements depicted in these sequences correspond with what we already know about The Legend of Zelda: the actors, the locations of their shoots, and the 2027 release date.Leaked The Legend of Zelda movie footage: Everything we know so farA clear look at Link and Zelda in live actionLeaked videos about The Legend of Zelda popped up on Instagram, all shot near the New Zealand set, giving us a good look at Benjamin Evan Ainsworth dressed as Link and Bo Bragason as Princess Zelda.Link is rocking the classic green tunic this time, not the blue Champion’s Tunic from Breath of the Wild. It’s a clear nod to the old-school Zelda games. His blond hair is shoulder-length, looks like they tweaked it since those early teaser pics, and it feels straight out of Ocarina of Time or Twilight Princess.Zelda shows up in a blue adventuring outfit that really leans into her Breath of the Wild look. Her hair is darker now, and her clothes fit closer. She has got fingerless gloves and that sharp royal blue tunic. Sometimes you catch her talking to someone and getting handed a weapon. Other times, she is just standing between a couple of horses. One of them has a saddle marked with the Triforce.Fans spotted something they had really hoped wouldn’t get left out: Zelda has pointed ears. They made it into The Legend of Zelda film, just like in the games.The biggest surprise: Dichen Lachman is likely playing ImpaThe biggest surprise from the leaked clips of The Legend of Zelda is Dichen Lachman showing up. You probably know her from Severance, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Altered Carbon, or maybe those projects she has done with Wes Ball. Nobody mentioned her joining the cast, but now there is footage of her in these dark, Sheikah-inspired clothes, talking to Zelda.Add her attitude in that scene, and the audience is nearly convinced she is portraying Impa, a famous character in the Zelda world, and one who is always keeping an eye on Zelda, leading her, and being with her through difficulties.In case Impa turns out to be one of the characters in the movie, it definitely indicates that the director and the crew are taking the lore into consideration to a greater extent than what audiences have anticipated. It also corresponds with Ball’s discussion about fusing the real, down-to-earth moments with the magic and fantasy.Production details of The Legend of Zelda View this post on Instagram Instagram PostThe Legend of Zelda movie began production on November 4, 2025, and filmmakers will be shooting in Wellington, New Zealand, through April 7, 2026. If you happened to catch the leaked clip, the stunning forests, undulating hills, and real sets must have caught your eye. It looks like they are going for something that feels real, less computer graphics, more on-location magic.Wes Ball is directing. He is the guy behind Maze Runner and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, and he has made it clear he is a huge Zelda fan. Word is, he wants the movie to capture that mix of grounded fantasy and the playful, adventurous spirit you get from the games. They are not just picking one game to adapt. Instead, they are pulling ideas from all over the series.Even so, there are some clear nods to the Breath of the Wild era, just look at Zelda’s outfit. Don’t expect a straight copy of that game, though. They are mixing things up, pulling in pieces from different corners of the franchise.Production notes from the early days of the project tell a pretty classic tale: Link, who is still the young hero, takes the lead in protecting Hyrule against the evil Ganon, who is also in pursuit of the Triforce. Thus, Link starts his journey by going through dungeons, fighting monsters, and solving puzzles, while looking for sacred artifacts at the same time.This time, however, Zelda does not simply vanish in the background. She is in the very center of the action, and her role is bigger and more active than in Breath of the Wild.Nintendo’s expanding multimedia universeNintendo is not solely focusing on games anymore; they are in the process of creating an entire cinematic universe. The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which accumulated an astonishing $1.3 billion globally, has positioned Nintendo to invest heavily in the animation industry.The sequel, Super Mario Galaxy, is scheduled for an April 2026 release. Furthermore, President Shuntaro Furukawa has revealed that movie releases based on the company’s major properties will be a regular occurrence going forward.Now, there is a movie based on The Legend of Zelda that is going to be a live-action production. Shigeru Miyamoto and Avi Arad are the producers, and Derek Connolly is in charge of the writing. The distribution is being handled by Sony Pictures.The Legend of Zelda will be showing in theaters worldwide on May 7, 2027.