The actor cast as Link in the forthcoming live-action The Legend of Zelda film, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, shared that he was too young to play the Nintendo Switch launch title The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild when it was released in 2017. Ainsworth, who is 17, told GamesRadar that he did not own a Switch at the time of the game's debut. "I remember being quite young at the time when it came out, and so I didn't have a Switch at the time," he explained. Instead, Ainsworth watched others play the game, recalling, "I was watching gamers play it, and watching playthroughs, essentially."
Born in September 2008, Ainsworth would have been eight years old when the Nintendo Switch and Breath of the Wild launched in March 2017. While game console ownership at that age varies by household, it is generally considered quite young.
Since being cast in the role, Ainsworth has made an effort to familiarize himself with the venerable franchise. "I've been going back and realizing the 40 years of legacy and history" of the Zelda series, he reflected. He noted the "varied tones, the varied stories, the varied renditions and vocal performances" associated with Link across his many appearances. Ainsworth is now a fan of the series.
The movie, slated for release on April 30, 2027, is expected to draw inspiration from multiple entries in the long-running video game franchise. The exact narrative and its connection to the Breath of the Wild timeline and mythology remain to be seen, as the film aims to create a new story based on a combination of official and leaked set imagery.
In the interim, Ainsworth can be seen in HBO's House of the Dragon, where he plays Prince Daeron Targaryen. The character's high fantasy setting and association with a dragon offer a thematic parallel to his upcoming role, despite differences in appearance.