‘The Legend of Zelda’ Movie Finally Casts Its Ganondorf

Nintendo’s live-action ‘Legend of Zelda‘ adaptation has spent months keeping its cast almost entirely under wraps, frustrating fans eager for any concrete news about the long-gestating project. With the film now just months from release and still missing key casting announcements, a new report may have finally filled in one of its biggest blanks.

The project has been in development for well over a decade before Nintendo officially confirmed it in 2023, with franchise creator Shigeru Miyamoto personally involved in shepherding the adaptation to the screen. Since then, the studio has moved cautiously with its casting reveals, having only officially confirmed Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link and Bo Bragason as Princess Zelda, despite the film having already wrapped production.

According to New York Times reporter Kyle Buchanan, the live-action ‘Legend of Zelda’ movie has reportedly cast Australian actor Uli Latukefu as the series’ iconic villain Ganondorf. Buchanan shared the news on social media, writing, “The LEGEND OF ZELDA movie is months away and they’ve still haven’t announced any actors besides the two leads! So here’s a freebie: I’ve been hearing the iconic series villain Ganondorf is played by Australian actor Uli Latukefu, best known for the show ‘Young Rock.'”

Latukefu is best known to audiences for portraying a young adult version of Dwayne Johnson in the NBC series ‘Young Rock’, a role that also connected him to Johnson’s DC Extended Universe film ‘Black Adam’, where he had a small part as Hurut, also known as The Champion. His broader filmography includes appearances in Ridley Scott’s ‘Alien: Covenant’, Taika Waititi’s ‘Next Goal Wins’, Ti West’s ‘MaXXXine’, and the Netflix series ‘Marco Polo’, along with credits on ‘Doctor Doctor’, ‘Laid’, and, most recently, ‘Countdown’ alongside Jensen Ackles.

If accurate, Latukefu’s casting would make him the third confirmed actor attached to the film, joining Ainsworth’s Link and Bragason’s Princess Zelda. Neither Sony Pictures nor Nintendo has officially commented on Buchanan’s report as of now, leaving the casting technically unconfirmed despite the credibility of the source.

Ganondorf holds a central place in ‘Legend of Zelda’ mythology as the human form of the series’ recurring antagonist Ganon, first introduced as a physical character in 1991’s ‘A Link to the Past’ before his most iconic appearance in 1998’s ‘Ocarina of Time’. Across the franchise, Ganondorf has repeatedly sought control of the Triforce in his efforts to conquer the kingdom of Hyrule, making him one of gaming’s most recognizable and enduring villains.

The film began production in November 2025 and wrapped in April 2026, with its theatrical release currently set for April 30, 2027. That release date positions the movie as an unofficial kickoff to the summer blockbuster season, with the film’s first trailer expected to debut sometime around the holiday season, potentially screening ahead of Sony Pictures’ ‘Jumanji: Open World’.

With production already completed and the film’s release date locked in, this Ganondorf casting report, even unconfirmed, gives fans their first real glimpse at who might be bringing one of gaming’s most legendary villains to life on screen.

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