Many factors have contributed to the enduring success of Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda franchise. The games are renowned for their extensive worldbuilding, beautiful environments, iconic music, and creative puzzles. Yet arguably the most important aspect of The Legend of Zelda‘s popularity is its colorful cast of characters, which includes valiant heroes, despicable villains, otherworldly creatures, and everything in between.
So far, only two characters have been confirmed to appear in Wes Ball’s upcoming live-action film adaptation of The Legend of Zelda: Link, as portrayed by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, and Princess Zelda, as portrayed by Bo Bragason. It is currently unknown whether the film will tell an original story or adapt one of the specific games, so the possibilities for the cast are endless, but a few characters stand out as the most important figures absent from the marketing thus far.
Ganondorf Is The Legend of Zelda’s Greatest Antagonist
After Link and Zelda, the most iconic The Legend of Zelda character is easily its recurring villain, Ganon. He debuted in the original game as a boar-like monster, but The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time revealed that he was once a warlock named Ganondorf. He was the king of the otherwise all-female Gerudo race, and he conquered the kingdom of Hyrule using the Triforce of Power, the counterpart to Link’s Triforce of Courage and Zelda’s Triforce of Wisdom.
As explained in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, the chronologically earliest game, Ganondorf was a reincarnation of the Demon King Demise, who had placed a curse upon the original Link and Zelda. He swore that a manifestation of his hatred would be reborn to claim vengeance on “Those who share the blood of the goddess and the spirit of the hero.”
As the oldest and most recognizable The Legend of Zelda boss, Ganon is all but guaranteed to appear in the upcoming film, just as Bowser did in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Even if Ganon does not serve as the main antagonist, he will surely at least be teased. For example, the film could focus on a villain like Onox, Veran, or Zant before revealing that Ganon had secretly manipulated the events all along.
Impa Has Filled Many Roles in The Legend of Zelda
Impa standing in front of a beam of golden light in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward SwordImage via Nintendo
The Legend of Zelda features a few characters who appear throughout the series’ branching timelines despite not being part of Demise’s curse. One such recurring character is Impa, a member of the ninja-like Sheikah tribe. Every version of Impa has served the royal family of Hyrule, usually attending to Zelda specifically. Most games have depicted her as an elderly mentor figure, but younger iterations of Impa have played more active roles in games like Ocarina of Time and Skyward Sword.
Though Link and Zelda are typically portrayed as extremely capable, they are also young. At the time of filming, Ainsworth and Bragason were 17 and 21 years old, respectively. Impa could therefore fill a parental role for the film’s heroes, passing down knowledge from the previous generation and training them to face the many deadly threats they will surely encounter on their adventures across Hyrule.
CBR Exclusive · Nintendo Quiz WHICH NINTENDO LEGEND ARE YOU? Press Start to Play From the dungeons of Hyrule to the cold reaches of space, Nintendo’s universe is bursting with legends, oddballs, and cosmic eating machines. Are you a brave-hearted adventurer? A relentlessly upbeat pink blob? A hypercharged electric mouse? Or the bounty hunter who needs no one? Twenty questions. One legendary result. Let’s find out who you really are.
Link
Toad
Samus
Kirby
Pikachu
01
It’s a free Saturday. What’s the move, hero? Your ideal morning is basically your origin story.
02
A big bad enemy is blocking the path. You: How you handle danger speaks louder than any character select screen.
03
How do you roll, style-wise? Your fit is your lore.
04
There’s a puzzle blocking your way. Your approach? Every dungeon has a puzzle. Every person has a method.
05
Most important question: what’s your meal of choice? Truly the most revealing question in this quiz.
06
You discover you have a secret power. What is it? The power you imagine says everything about you.
07
Dream HQ — what does yours look like? Where you recharge says a lot about who you are when no one’s watching.
08
What’s your actual biggest weakness? Even legends have a weak point. Courage is admitting it.
09
The group needs a leader. Do you step up? Leadership style reveals the true final boss of your personality.
10
Halfway! What truly gets you out of bed every morning? Core motivation. This is the real 1-UP.
11
You just totally wiped out. In front of everyone. The fall doesn’t matter. The bounce-back is everything.
12
There’s a mystery item chest! You hope it contains… The upgrade you want is the upgrade you already are.
13
It’s game night with the squad! What are you doing? Social energy = final form revealed.
14
How do people honestly describe you? Your reputation is just your vibe with a narrator.
15
Preferred method of getting around the world? Your travel vibe is basically your whole personality in motion.
16
What does being a hero actually mean to you? The real final dungeon is a philosophical one.
17
How do you want history to remember you? Every legend leaves a mark on the world map.
18
Someone has been seriously getting in your way. You: How you handle adversaries is basically your combat report.
19
In a Smash Bros. match you are the one who… The Smash meta never lies about character.
20
The final boss is right there. This is THE moment. GO! Twenty questions led to this. No saving now.
The Legend Has Been Chosen YOUR NINTENDO LEGEND
Your scores are revealed below! The character with the highest number is your Nintendo alter-ego. Read their profile to discover your true gaming legend destiny.
Link
Toad
Samus
Kirby
Pikachu
You’re the chosen one who never asked for the title but took it anyway. Brave, methodical, and quietly carrying the weight of an entire kingdom on your shoulders — you prefer action over words and wisdom over brute force. People rely on you completely, and somehow you always find the right key for the right lock. You don’t show off. You just show up. Every single time.
You are the backbone of every group, and everyone secretly knows it. Enthusiastic, loyal, and somehow always the first one to show up when things go wrong — you make everyone around you feel capable and energized. You don’t get enough credit, and you genuinely don’t mind. You run into danger at full speed with a smile on your face and a war cry echoing behind you. Legendary support energy.
Highly competent, quietly intimidating, and deeply independent. You don’t need a team, you don’t need applause, and you definitely don’t need anyone telling you how to handle the Metroids. You’ve survived situations that would end anyone else, and you did it alone, in silence, with zero complaints. Underneath the armor is someone with more depth than anyone in the room — they just rarely get to see it. Their loss.
You look like pure joy and you are pure joy — but don’t let anyone mistake that for weakness. You absorb everything life throws at you and come back stronger, cuter, and somehow even more powerful. You find delight in everything, you’re beloved by literally everyone, and when push comes to shove you will inhale a god and become that god without breaking a sweat. Chaos wrapped in a smile.
You’re electric — literally and figuratively. Bursting with energy, fiercely loyal to your people, and always ready to give everything you have for the ones who matter. You’re small but your presence fills every room you walk into. You compete hard, play harder, and your enthusiasm is genuinely contagious. People may underestimate you at first glance. They don’t make that mistake twice.
Navi Followed Link On His Most Famous Adventure
Link playing an ocarina and Sheik playing a harp in artwork for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of TimeImage via Nintendo
Navi only appeared in one installment of the main The Legend of Zelda series, but she made a big impact. This blue fairy debuted in Ocarina of Time, having been chosen by the Great Deku Tree to aid Link on his quest. She remained by his side throughout the game, providing advice, pointing out hidden details in the environment, and helping Link target enemies. Navi started the tradition of companion characters in The Legend of Zelda, continued by the likes of Fi and the fan-favorite Midna.
The promotional stills released for The Legend of Zelda film have led fans to believe that Link and Zelda will carry out their quest together, but it is possible that they will spend a significant amount of time separated from one another, like in most of the games. In that case, Navi could accompany Link in Zelda’s absence. She could even speak on Link’s behalf if he remains silent like his game counterparts.
Tingle is One of The Legend of Zelda’s Most Unusual Characters
The cover art of Freshly-Picked Tingle’s Rosy RupeelandImage via Nintendo
The Legend of Zelda typically has a more serious tone than most Nintendo properties, but the games are far from devoid of comedy, as exemplified by Tingle. First appearing as a map seller in The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, Tingle is a diminutive Hylian obsessed with fairies. His goofy appearance and eccentric personality made him a memorable if divisive addition, and he has since returned in several more games, even starring in some bizarre spin-off titles.
In many ways, Hyrule is a classic fantasy setting, filled with the knights, castles, dragons, and other tropes that fans of the genre have come to expect. However, the games have always featured strange aspects that stand out from other fantasy offerings. Including Tingle in the upcoming adaptation, even if only briefly, would likewise set The Legend of Zelda apart from other fantasy films by tapping into the series’ absurd humor.
Sheik Was the Subject of The Legend of Zelda’s Greatest Plot Twist
Sheik taunting with a trip wire in Super Smash Bros. UltimateImage via Nintendo
In Ocarina of Time, Link was occasionally aided by a mysterious Sheikah named Sheik, who was eventually revealed to be none other than Zelda. To avoid being identified by Ganondorf’s forces, she disguised herself as a man and began relying upon ninja techniques she learned from Impa. Despite only making one canon appearance, Zelda’s alter ego became one of the series’ most iconic characters, as evidenced when she earned a coveted spot on the Super Smash Bros. roster.
Unless the upcoming film adapts Ocarina of Time specifically, the odds of Sheik appearing are slim. Narratively, Sheik’s purpose was to give Zelda a greater role in the action, but more recent games have allowed the princess to fight without donning a disguise. The photo released of Bragason in costume even included a bow and quiver of arrows. Regardless, fans would love to see a nod to Ocarina of Time‘s shocking plot twist on the big screen.
