The legend of zelda film adaptation begins shooting in new zealand

The highly anticipated cinematic adaptation of Nintendo's beloved Legend of Zelda franchise has officially commenced production, with reports confirming principal photography took place in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, late last year.

Scouting for epic landscapes

Following the initial start-up in November 2025, the production team expanded their filming locations to the picturesque region of Otago in February this year.

Specifically, key scenes are being captured in Poolburn, a scenic area nestled in Central Otago, as well as in the quaint settlement of Glenorchy, situated on the shores of Lake Wakatipu in the south of the country.

This marks the latest in a string of fantasy sagas to find inspiration in Otago's breathtaking landscapes, including James Cameron's Avatar (2009) and Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy, which saw the director revisit the region to bring King Kong (2005) to life.

Otago has served as the backdrop for some of Middle-earth's most iconic locations, such as Isengard, the imposing stronghold of Saruman, the Bruinen River crossing where Arwen escorted Frodo, and the mighty Pillars of the Kings, marking the boundary of Gondor.

While the story of The Legend of Zelda remains under wraps, the franchise is replete with its own iconic places, which are set to utilize Otago's natural splendor in the leap to live-action, cementing a visual identity alongside the likes of Hyrule.