Takaya Imamura, the creator of the eccentric Tingle character from the Legend of Zelda series, has revealed his top choice to portray Tingle in the upcoming live-action film adaptation! Discover his surprising pick below.
Takaya Imamura's Ideal Tingle Casting: A Bold Choice
Forget Jason Momoa or Jack Black – Imamura has a different actor in mind. In a recent interview with VGC, he stated his preference: "Masi Oka." He elaborated, referencing Oka's iconic role in the TV series Heroes: "You know the TV series Heroes? The Japanese character who goes ‘yatta!’; I’d like him to do it."
Oka's energetic portrayal of Hiro Nakamura in Heroes, complete with his signature "yatta!" exclamation, makes him a compelling candidate. His diverse acting credits, spanning action films like Bullet Train and The Meg to the acclaimed Hawaii Five-O reboot, showcase his comedic timing and infectious enthusiasm – qualities perfectly suited for Tingle's unique personality. The visual similarity between Oka's Heroes poses and Tingle's artwork further strengthens the case.
Whether director Wes Ball will heed Imamura's suggestion and even include Tingle in the film remains uncertain. However, Ball's description of the film as a "live-action Miyazaki" movie suggests a potential openness to Tingle's whimsical nature, aligning with the often fantastical elements of Miyazaki's works.
Announced in November 2023, the Legend of Zelda live-action movie is directed by Wes Ball and produced by Shigeru Miyamoto and Avi Arad. Ball expressed his commitment to the franchise's importance in March 2024, stating, "I want to fulfill people’s greatest desires... I want it to be a serious movie."
For further details on the Legend of Zelda live-action film, explore our related article!
