- Primary Subject: Sam Neill’s posthumous involvement in The Legend of Zelda live-action movie
- Key Update: Reports confirm the late Sam Neill secretly filmed a role for The Legend of Zelda movie prior to his passing.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: August 7, 2026
- Quick Answer: The late Sam Neill secretly filmed an undisclosed role for the upcoming The Legend of Zelda movie before passing away at age 78.
The late Sam Neill filmed scenes for the movie adaptation of The Legend of Zelda before he passed away last month.
The Jurassic Park star died from pneumonia at the age of 78 on July 13. It was revealed through various reports that he managed to work on multiple movies before his passing, so fans will still be able to see his final works next year.
As it turns out, he quietly joined the cast of the highly anticipated video game movie while it was filming several months ago.
What Is Sam Neill's Role in The Legend of Zelda Movie?
Deadline confirmed that Sam Neill was one of the actors who joined the cast of the film adaptation of The Legend of Zelda. While production has already wrapped, his involvement was only confirmed yesterday.
However, details regarding the role the late actor played in the upcoming movie are still under wraps.
Aside from Neill, the other actors who have also joined the cast are Uli Latukefu (as Ganondorf), Dichen Lachman (as Impa), and Yvonne Strahovski (as an unknown queen character).
It was already announced last year that Benjamin Evan Ainsworth is playing the role of Link, while Bo Bragason is playing the titular Princess Zelda.
The film wrapped production in April earlier this year, making it the final project that Neill worked on prior to his passing. It was filmed around New Zealand, the late actor's home country.
Aside from The Legend of Zelda, Neill is also set to appear in the upcoming movies Godzilla x Kong: Supernova and the romantic-comedy The Last Resort starring Daisy Ridley.
What to Expect in The Legend of Zelda Movie
While specific plot details remain strictly under wraps, the upcoming live-action film adaptation of The Legend of Zelda promises to bring Nintendo’s legendary video game series to life on the big screen. The project is directed by Wes Ball and written by T.S. Nowlin.
The film is a joint effort between Nintendo, Columbia Pictures, Arad Productions, and OddBall Entertainment.
As for the leading cast members, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth is known for his roles in The Haunting of Bly Manor, The Sandman, and House of the Dragon. Bo Bragason also has a few roles under her belt, having participated in shows like Renegade Nell and Sterling Point.
The movie is currently slated for release in theaters worldwide on April 30, 2027. It remains unknown whether it will be available on IMAX.
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