Nintendo just gave the Zelda movie a major vote of confidence

The bad news: Nintendo and Sony Pictures have delayed the live-action The Legend of Zelda movie. The good? That delay is a mere six weeks, and puts The Legend of Zelda right at the beginning of summer blockbuster season, an indication that Nintendo and Sony are confident in Link’s ability to save the summer of 2027.

The untitled Zelda movie was previously slated for a March 26, 2027 theatrical release. Nintendo announced that date back in March. But on Monday, The Legend of Zelda co-creator (and Zelda movie producer) Shigeru Miyamoto said in a statement that the film had been delayed to May 7, 2027:

“For production reasons, we are changing the release date of the live-action film of The Legend of Zelda to May 7, 2027,” Miyamoto said. “It will be some weeks later than the release timing we originally announced, and we will take the extra time to make the film as good as it can be. Thank you for your patience.”

While the release date is not a make-or-break factor in a film’s success, Hollywood studios love to release a blockbuster in May. This year, some of the biggest box office draws — Lilo & Stitch, Thunderbolts*, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, and Final Destination: Bloodlines — have been May releases.

Sony Pictures may also feel a bit more confident about a May 2027 release, now that Avengers: Secret Wars has been moved from May 27, 2027 to Dec. 17, 2027. That certainly gives Nintendo and Sony a lot more breathing room to give The Legend of Zelda the attention it needs.

Plus, Nintendo and Sony now have a little more wiggle room to finalize Hunter Schafer’s deal to play Zelda, should that fancasting actually come to fruition.

What does give pause regarding The Legend of Zelda’s new date is its proximity to another tentpole Sony Pictures production: Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse is currently slated for a June 4, 2027 bow in movie theaters. Given that the conclusion to Miles Morales’ Spider-Verse saga has already been delayed substantially, keep young Spider-Man in your thoughts and prayers.