Nintendo has announced a change to the release date of its live-action The Legend of Zelda movie, which will launch earlier than previously expected.
The film is now set to arrive in theaters on April 30, 2027 — a week sooner than its previous May 7, 2027 slot. No specific reason was given for the shift, though Nintendo talisman Shigeru Miyamoto has said that Nintendo is committed to completing the movie for fans as soon as possible.
"This is Miyamoto," wrote Miyamoto, via Nintendo's social media accounts. "We have decided to change the worldwide theatrical release date of the live-action film The Legend of Zelda from May 7, 2027 to April 30, 2027.
"In order to deliver it to everyone even one day sooner, the team is united in advancing production. It's less than a year until release, but please wait just a little longer."
Zelda's previous date had no specific competition, and certainly nothing like the Avengers: Doomsday and Dune 3 clash that's coming this December. Still, it is a busy launch period, with several other blockbusters all jostling for position.
Big films set to arrive next year around the same as The Legend of Zelda include Sonic the Hedgehog 4 (March 19), Godzilla x Kong: Supernova (March 26) and Star Wars: Starfighter (May 28). Zelda was originally announced with a March release window, before Nintendo previously shifted it back to early May.
Next year's movie line-up only gets more competitive through the summer months, with Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, Shrek 5, Man of Tomorrow and A Minecraft Movie 2 all due within four weeks of each other through June and July.
Nintendo has kept many details of its Zelda movie under-wraps, with no word on its story, setting or characters beyond Link and Zelda, who will be played by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth and Bo Bragason. Filming in New Zealand has now wrapped, though some fans got a sneaky glimpse — and believe they spotted Succession actress Dichen Lachman in costume as Zelda's aide Impa.
Fans expect to hear much more about the film later this year when Nintendo gets around to marking the Zelda franchise's 40th anniversary. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes director Wes Ball is helming the film, and has spoken previously about wanting to make a "serious" and "grounded" adaptation that feels "real" to audiences.
Following a recent leak, Nintendo is also believed to be developing a Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake for Switch 2.
Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
