The entertainment world is still reeling from the loss of Sam Neill, who passed away on July 13 at St. Vincent's Private Hospital in Sydney after a battle with pneumonia. Best remembered as Dr. Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park franchise, Neill spent three decades delivering unforgettable performances across film and television. He also earned critical praise for his portrayal of Inspector Chester Campbell in the first two seasons of Peaky Blinders. More recently, he starred opposite Eric Bana in the Netflix crime thriller Untamed, which was renewed for a second season—though Neill will not appear in it, despite filming having wrapped earlier this year.
When a beloved actor passes, fans naturally wonder what their final on-screen appearance will be. That question has now been answered: Neill will be part of the cast of the upcoming live-action Legend of Zelda movie, scheduled for release on April 30, 2027. While his specific role remains undisclosed, the announcement has sparked excitement among fans of both the actor and the iconic video game franchise.
Joining Neill in the film are Yvonne Strahovski, known for her role in The Handmaid's Tale, and Dichen Lachman, who played Ms. Casey in Severance and Soyona in Jurassic World: Dominion—the last time Neill donned the khaki of Alan Grant. Their characters are also being kept under wraps, adding to the mystery surrounding the project.
Who Else Stars in the Movie?
Bo Bragason takes on the role of Princess Zelda, having recently appeared in Sterling Point and King & Conqueror. Opposite her, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth plays Link; he's currently seen as Daeron Targaryen in House of the Dragon Season 3. The script comes from Derek Connelly, with contributions from Shigeru Miyamoto, T.S. Nowlin, and Takashi Tezuka. Wes Ball, known for the Maze Runner trilogy and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, directs.
This news arrives amid a wave of high-profile casting announcements, and fans are already speculating about how Neill's character might fit into the Zelda universe. Some hope he'll voice a wise elder, while others imagine him as a villainous presence. Until official details emerge, the speculation is part of the fun.
For those eager to see Neill one last time, the wait won't be too long—The Legend of Zelda opens in theaters everywhere on April 30, 2027. Stay tuned for more updates as they come.
