THE LEGEND OF ZELDA Star Benjamin Evan Ainsworth Says He Was Too Young to Play Breath of the Wild When It Launched

One of the biggest video game adaptations on the horizon is The Legend of Zelda, and fans are already eager to see how Benjamin Evan Ainsworth steps into the role of Link alongside Bo Bragason as Princess Zelda.

While details about the movie are still being kept under wraps, Ainsworth recently shared a fun story that instantly reminded a lot of fans just how much time has passed since Breath of the Wild changed gaming forever.

During a conversation with GamesRadar+ while promoting his role as Daeron Targaryen in House of the Dragon Season 3, the young actor was, of course, asked about his journey to Hyrule.

Although he couldn't reveal anything substantial about the movie itself, he did open up about his own history with the franchise, and it came with a reminder that might make longtime Zelda fans feel a little older than they'd like.

"I can't speak too much on the film itself, but I remember vividly when Breath of the Wild came out – and it might show my age – but I remember being quite young at the time when it came out, and so I didn't have a Switch at the time," he admits. "And so, I was watching gamers play it, and watching playthroughs, essentially."

Ainsworth was born in 2008, meaning he was only around eight or nine years old when Breath of the Wild launched in 2017. While millions of players were exploring Hyrule themselves, he was experiencing the adventure through YouTube playthroughs instead.

Landing the role of Link gave him the perfect excuse to dive much deeper into Nintendo's legendary fantasy series.

"And then, upon being fortunate enough to play this role, such an iconic character, going back and realizing the 40 years of legacy and history, and the varied tones, the varied stories, the varied renditions and vocal performances of this character as well," he continues.

"Yeah, I'm a big fan, and just really excited, because it was an awesome thing to shoot. New Zealand is a wonderful place. But yeah, can't say too much more."

It's great to hear that Ainsworth embraced the franchise's long history before taking on such an iconic role. Link may not be known for lengthy conversations, but he's one of gaming's most recognizable heroes, and every generation has its own version of the character.

It sounds like Ainsworth took the time to understand what makes Link such a beloved figure before bringing him to life.

The live action The Legend of Zelda movie is being directed by Wes Ball, whose credits include The Maze Runner trilogy and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. The screenplay comes from Derek Connolly and T.S. Nowlin, and Ball has already shared the kind of adventure he's hoping to create.

"I've been thinking about it for a long freakin' time. I want to fulfil people's greatest desires. I know it's important, this [Zelda] franchise, to people, and I want it to be a serious movie. A real movie that can give people an escape."

He also explained the creative direction he wants the film to take, saying it's an "awesome fantasy-adventure movie that isn’t like Lord of the Rings, it’s its own thing. I've always said, I would love to see a live-action Miyazaki. That wonder and whimsy that he brings to things, I would love to see something like that."

Those are ambitious goals, but they also sound like exactly the kind of approach many Zelda fans have hoped for. Rather than chasing another fantasy franchise, Ball wants to capture the magical feeling that has made Nintendo's series so memorable for nearly four decades.

We'll see how it all comes together when The Legend of Zelda arrives in theaters on May 7, 2027.