Sam Neill's Zelda Film Among His Final Roles
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- Sam Neill completed filming his role in the live-action Legend of Zelda movie before dying of pneumonia last month at age 78, making it one of his final screen appearances.
- The Legend of Zelda film wrapped principal photography in April and is slated for release next May, though Neill's specific character remains unannounced — fans have speculated he could play the King of Hyrule.
- Benjamin Evan Ainsworth and Bo Bragason lead the cast as Link and Princess Zelda, with Wes Ball directing; the movie marks the first-ever film adaptation of Nintendo's franchise, which has sold an estimated 170–190 million copies since 1986.
- Neill also shot parts in Godzilla x Kong: Supernova (due next March) and The Last Resort, a romcom where he plays the father of Daisy Ridley's lead character.
- Neill's five-decade career spanned horror and fantasy landmarks including Possession, Omen III: The Final Conflict, In the Mouth of Madness, and three Jurassic Park films.
Why it matters: Nintendo's third mega-franchise — after Mario and Pokémon — is finally getting a live-action film, and Neill's posthumous presence turns what would be a milestone adaptation into a farewell performance from a beloved character actor. For Zelda fans, Neill's unannounced role is the most watched mystery of the casting, and his death at 78 means there will be no more new Neill performances after these final projects hit screens in 2026.
