Netflix and Sony Pictures Entertainment announced this week a groundbreaking worldwide Pay-1 licensing agreement worth over $7 billion, and the live-action The Legend of Zelda movie is one of the first titles confirmed for the deal.
This means the film will hit Netflix globally after its theatrical run in 2027, making the streaming platform the exclusive home for Link and Zelda’s big-screen debut following its time in cinemas.
The multi-year deal marks an industry first for Pay-1 agreements, which refer to the initial streaming window after a movie’s theatrical and video-on-demand releases.
Sony’s films will now stream on Netflix worldwide instead of being scattered across different platforms by region, ending the frustration of availability varying by country.
The arrangement begins rolling out gradually later this year, with full global availability expected in early 2029.
What the deal means for Zelda fans
For The Legend of Zelda movie specifically, this guarantees a clear path from theaters to streaming. The film is scheduled to release in cinemas worldwide on May 7, 2027, distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing.
Typically, Sony movies arrive on Netflix around three months after theatrical release and remain there for approximately 18 months, though exact timings can vary by region.
Other high-profile titles included in the deal are Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, Sam Mendes’ quartet of Beatles biopics, The Nightingale starring Dakota and Elle Fanning, and Sony Pictures Animation’s Buds.
Lauren Smith, Vice President of Licensing and Programming Strategy at Netflix, highlighted that giving international subscribers exclusive access to Sony’s films adds significant value to their memberships, especially considering hits like Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and Anyone But You performed well with U.S. audiences.
What we know about this movie so far
The Legend of Zelda movie is currently filming in New Zealand under director Wes Ball, known for the Maze Runner trilogy and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
The cast features Bo Bragason as Princess Zelda and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link, with leaked footage suggesting Dichen Lachman may play Impa.
Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto is producing alongside Marvel veteran Avi Arad, and the project is co-financed by Nintendo and Sony Pictures, with Nintendo holding more than 50% of the financial stake.
The screenplay, written by T.S. Nowlin, keeps plot details under wraps, though Ball has stated he envisions a Studio Ghibli aesthetic for the film and wants it to feel “grounded” and “real”.
Principal photography began in November 2025 and is expected to wrap in April 2026. Nintendo revealed the first official images of the film in mid-November 2025, showing Ainsworth as Link and Bragason as Zelda in a field.
The movie was originally scheduled for March 26, 2027, but Nintendo delayed it to May 7, 2027, due to production reasons.
This comes about one year after The Super Mario Galaxy Movie releases in April 2026, marking two consecutive years of major Nintendo theatrical releases as the company ramps up its moviemaking efforts.
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