New reports indicate that actor Sam Neill was slated to appear in the forthcoming The Legend of Zelda film adaptation. According to sources cited by Deadline, principal photography for the collaboration between Nintendo and Sony concluded in April, several months prior to Neill's passing.
While Sony has not officially confirmed Neill's involvement, his presence is expected alongside three recently announced cast members. Uli Latukefu, known for his role in Young Rock, is set to portray Ganondorf. Dichen Lachman, who has featured in Severance, and Yvonne Strahovski of The Handmaid's Tale will take on unspecified roles. These additions join Bo Bragason as Zelda and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link.
This reported appearance in The Legend of Zelda will be one of Neill's final screen performances. The film is scheduled for release on April 30 and was filmed in Neill's native New Zealand. The actor's passing was announced on July 13 in Sydney, Australia. An official statement noted that the loss was "sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer free," referencing his battle with blood cancer.
The Legend of Zelda film is directed by Wes Ball, whose previous directorial credits include Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes and the Maze Runner series. Shigeru Miyamoto is involved in the production as a producer.