Sam Neill to appear posthumously in Legend of Zelda film

Actor Sam Neill will appear posthumously in the upcoming film adaptation of “The Legend of Zelda,” according to recent casting reports. The beloved New Zealand-born star, who died on July 13, 2026, completed filming for the Nintendo and Sony Pictures collaboration before his passing. His role remains officially unspecified, though speculation suggests he may portray the King of Hyrule.

Neill’s involvement was revealed alongside the casting of three additional actors for the live-action film. Dichen Lachman, known for her role in “Severance,” has been cast as Impa, the Sheikah bodyguard and advisor to Princess Zelda. Yvonne Strahovski, star of “The Handmaid’s Tale,” will play a queen character. They join Uli Latukefu, who was previously confirmed to play the antagonist Ganondorf. The film’s lead roles are filled by Bo Bragason as Princess Zelda and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link. Principal photography wrapped in April 2026, with much of the film shot in New Zealand.

The movie is directed by Wes Ball, known for the “Maze Runner” series and “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” and is produced by Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto and Sony veteran Avi Arad. Ball has stated his intention...