Uli Latukefu Cast As Ganondorf In Zelda Movie
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- Uli Latukefu has been cast as Ganondorf in Sony and Nintendo's live-action Legend of Zelda movie, signing a multi-picture deal per Deadline sources
- Bo Bragason (Zelda) and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth (Link) were announced as leads last July; Latukefu is the first major role reveal since then, with castings described as closely guarded
- Wes Ball (Planet of the Apes franchise) is directing, with Shigeru Miyamoto and Avi Arad producing; T.S. Nowlin penned the most recent script draft
- The film is slated for May 7, 2027 theatrical release, co-financed and distributed by Sony in a deal first announced in fall 2023
- The Legend of Zelda franchise debuted in 1986, created by Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka, and has sold over 150 million units across multiple console generations
- Latukefu is repped by Gersh, RGM Artists, Artists First, and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern, and previously appeared in Black Adam, Next Goal Wins, MaXXXine, and Prime Video's Countdown
- The New York Times' Kyle Buchanan first reported the casting; reps for Sony did not respond to comment requests
Why it matters: With Sony and Nintendo's Zelda film locked to a May 7, 2027 release, naming its lead villain — three years after the project was announced — moves production from pre-production into active casting. Latukefu's multi-picture deal suggests Nintendo is building a recurring cinematic universe beyond the Super Mario Bros. franchise, which crossed $1B globally.
