Summary

• Casting Link for the live-action Legend of Zelda movie will be challenging due to his lack of dialogue and the diverse interpretations by players.
• Actors like Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Aidan Kennedy, and Joel Courtney could bring different aspects of Link's personality to the role.
• Actors such as Justice Smith, Bex Taylor-Klaus, Julian Cro, Aoi Takeya, Dallas Dupree Young, Michael Provost, Griffin Gluck, Brigette Lundy-Paine, and Zackary Arthur have the potential to portray different versions of Link based on their looks, skills, and previous roles.

A live-action Legend of Zelda movie has finally been confirmed, which means a talented actor will need to be chosen to play Link. The Hero of Time will be an extremely challenging character to cast since he has no dialogue in the many Zelda video games. This makes his personality difficult to define, with every player projecting their own ideas onto Link from game to game. The Legend of Zelda movie will need to construct a more concrete character, which will have a lot to do with who is chosen to take on the iconic role.

The first Legend of Zelda game was released in 1986, introducing gamers to the central trio of characters—Princess Zelda, Link, and the evil Ganon. Since then, Zelda has become a massive franchise, with 29 titles (including remakes) released on various Nintendo systems. Link is the playable character in each of these games, though he isn't technically the same person from title to title. The games span centuries within the lore, with each version of the hero being an incarnation of the original. In a sense, this will make casting Link in the Legend of Zelda movie a little easier since there are endless possibilities for who this character could be in the film's version.

12 Hero Fiennes Tiffin Works For Any Version Of Link

Tiffin is known for his role in the After films and for playing Tom Riddle in Harry Potter.

English actor and model Hero Fiennes Tiffin has the perfect name for someone playing the first live-action version of Link, but that isn't the only reason he would be great for The Legend of Zelda. Most known for his leading role in the After films and for playing the young Tom Riddle in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Tiffin is no stranger to playing a variety of character types. Since Link's personality could range anywhere from intense to lighthearted in the Zelda movie, this actor could be trusted to handle the role no matter what.

11 Aidan Kennedy Could Bring Amazing Stunts To The Zelda Movie

Kennedy did stunt work for Logan, Daredevil, and American Born Chinese.

Though high-profile actors like Tom Holland have been suggested to play Link in the Legend of Zelda movie, such a popular figure may be hard to take seriously in the role. Instead, it may be better to see an actor who hasn't had a big moment in Hollywood yet. Aiden Kennedy, who worked as a stunt performer in Logan (2017), Daredevil (2015), and American Born Chinese (2023), would have the action-hero nature of Link's character covered. Since his face isn't recognized by the mainstream, it would be easy to see him as the Hero of Time without having to ignore his past roles.

10 Joel Courtney Could Play A Lighthearted Version Of Link

Courtney is best known for his performances in the Kissing Booth movies.

Know for the Kissing Booth movies, Jesus Revolution (2023) and Sick (2022), Joel Courtney would be great to bring a lightness to Link's character in The Legend of Zelda. Though some versions of the Hero of Time are considered more serious, many of the younger versions of his character are more "cute" than intimidating. Courtney has a friendly, easy-to-like face but can also turn on the drama when it's necessary, which is precisely what is needed for Link.

9 Justice Smith's Experience In Fantasy Could Be An Asset

Smith played Simon the Sorcerer in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

The Legend of Zelda games are fantasy, and the kingdom of Hyrule is full of traditional creatures like fairies as well as a few unique to the franchise, like Rito, Zoras, Gorons, and more. It's a kind of world that Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves actor Justice Smith would be comfortable in. He has demonstrated his ability to pull off visually striking fight choreography, and his role in other films like All the Bright Places shows his romance chops. Should the Legend of Zelda movie take things in that direction, Smith may be just the performer.

8 Bex Taylor-Klaus Has The Perfect Look For A Spritely Link

Taylor-Klause played Sin in The CW's Arrow.

Another actor who's no stranger to action, Bex Taylor-Klaus, gained notoriety for their dramatic performances in series like The Killing and The CW's Arrow. Since then, they have done several horror projects, such as the 2015 series Scream and the 2018 film Hell Fest. As a non-binary actor, Taylor-Klaus could uniquely capture the gender ambiguity of Link in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom while also bringing more LGBTQ+ representation to the lead role of what is sure to be a massive film.

7 Julian Cro Looks Like A Very Traditional Link

Cro is known for his roles in Deadly Promises and Beautiful Boy.

Julian Cro has precisely the sort of look Legend of Zelda fans would expect for Link, so he is likely to be readily accepted for the role were he to be cast. Born in 2003, he could work perfectly as the most standard version of Link, who is typically in his late teens or early 20s. Known for his roles in The Sinister Tale of Scoopy Burger, Deadly Promises, and Beautiful Boy, Cro has experience in a variety of genres, so he would likely meld well with whatever direction The Legend of Zelda takes.

6 Aoi Takeya Would Be The Perfect Silent & Mysterious Link

Takeya plays Jason Oki in the series Tokyo Vice.

A relative newcomer in the world of movies and TV, Aoi Takeya has begun to gain recognition for his role in the 2022 series Tokyo Vice. Though this version of Link would need to be a little older, Takeya could flawlessly pull off the quiet and mysterious side of the character who traditionally never speaks. The actor is highly emotive, communicating a great deal in his performances through a subtle shift in the eyes. Fantasy would be a whole new chapter for the actor's career, but a character as iconic as Link could be a great next step.

5 Dallas Dupree Young Would Make a Great Young Link

Young is known for playing Kenny in Netflix's Cobra Kai.

If the Legend of Zelda movie were to keep its Link on the younger side of the spectrum, Dallas Dupree Young could be the perfect fit. Best known for his regular role in the Netflix series Cobra Kai, Young is no stranger to action choreography, which is sure to be a significant feature in a Zelda movie. The actor has a natural sweetness and likeability that can very quickly shift into aggressive intensity. This is precisely how Young Link in games like Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker could be described,

4 Michael Provost Could Be A More Comical Link

Provost has played in movies like Insatiable, Plan B, and The Holdovers.

Though Link has never been brought to live-action, an animated TV series once gave the traditionally silent character a voice. The Legend of Zelda (1989) featured a hero who was far sillier than what is typically seen in the games. If this was the angle the Zelda movie were to take, actor Michael Provost could be a good fit. He brings a joyful demeanor to his roles in movies like Insatiable (2018), Plan B (2021), and The Holdovers, and could work perfectly as this sarcastic and slightly mischievous version of Link.

3 Griffin Gluck Could Handle Any Version Of Zelda's Link

Gluck plays Gabe in the Netflix series Locke & Key.

Griffin Gluck is another actor whose experience in comedy and drama gives him an edge regarding versatility. Known for playing Charlie in Red Band Society and Gabe in Netflix's Locke & Key, Gluck has an award for Best Performance in a Feature Film from the Young Artists Awards under his belt, so he could no doubt handle a project like the Legend of Zelda movie. Gluck also has the right look for Link, with a youthful enough appearance to work as a younger or older version of the character, depending on how he is done up and presented.