The Legend of Zelda Movie Casts Uli Latukefu as Ganondorf
The Legend of Zelda movie has found its Ganondorf.
According to a report from Deadline, Uli Latukefu will play the film's villain, Ganondorf. The actor also reportedly signed a multi-picture deal, meaning the studio will have the opportunity to bring him back for sequels, should the film be a success.
The Legend of Zelda film wrapped filming earlier this year, and somehow, Sony and Nintendo have managed to keep a tight lid on everything in the movie. The only other confirmed castings are for Link and Zelda, who are already relatively unknown actors. A handful of images also trickled out, but they don't reveal much about the movie. Ultimately, we don't know much about the film, and it's less than a year away from release.
We're not even sure if Ganondorf will be physically played by Latukefu. Ganondorf may be a CG creature, and that's why they were able to keep this casting under wraps for so long. If he's just providing the voice, the studio may have been able to avoid any leaks for a while. We'll likely find out sometime later this year, as Nintendo will presumably drop the first trailer before the holiday season.
This will be Nintendo's second attempt at a modern big-screen adaptation of one of its franchises. Mario graced the screens in an animated film in 2023 and returned in a sequel earlier this year. Although the films aren't critical darlings, they make heaps of money at the box office and largely capture the spirit of the games in a way that the 90s Mario movie didn't. This will be the first attempt at bringing Zelda to the big screen, and it remains to be seen if Nintendo will be able to replicate the success of Mario with this franchise.
The Legend of Zelda movie hits theaters on April 30, 2027.
Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images
Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN's news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.