After long search, Nintendo finally names who'll play Link and Zelda in live-action film

Nintendo

has officially cast its leads for the highly anticipated

live-action Legend of Zelda

movie, selecting two relatively unknown young actors to bring the beloved video game characters to life.

Bo Bragason

will portray Princess Zelda, while 16-year-old Benjamin Evan Ainsworth takes on the role of

Link

. Nintendo's legendary game designer Shigeru Miyamoto made the surprise announcement on social media Wednesday, sharing photos of the actors in costume and expressing his excitement to see them on the big screen.The casting choices represent a departure from the star-studded approach used in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, instead opting for fresh faces who won't carry audience preconceptions. Bragason, an English actress, is best known for her work in Disney+'s Renegade Nell and the BBC series Three Girls. Ainsworth, also British, gained recognition for his role in Netflix's The Haunting of Bly Manor and Disney's Flora & Ulysses.The decision to cast emerging talent may seem risky for such a high-profile project, but it allows Nintendo and co-financier Sony Pictures to allocate more budget toward supporting characters and world-building elements that will bring the kingdom of Hyrule to life.Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes director Wes Ball is helming the project, which he has described as wanting to capture the visual beauty of Studio Ghibli films while remaining grounded in reality. The movie will adapt the iconic Nintendo franchise that launched in 1986, following Link and Princess Zelda as they battle to save Hyrule from the evil Ganon.The Legend of Zelda movie is scheduled to hit theaters on May 7, 2027.