Hunter Schafer couldn’t be more perfect for the role of Princess Zelda in the upcoming The Legend of Zelda live-action movie, and this Euphoria scene from a lesser-known episode proves it.
With a release date of March 26, 2027, there’s still a way to go until we see the Zelda movie hit theaters. But there’s been plenty of speculation about who will join the cast ever since the video game adaptation was first announced back in 2023.
One name that has been raised time and again is Hunter Schafer, with her elven looks and ethereal presence making the actress an ideal candidate for the role. The Euphoria star even responded to the fan casting in 2023, saying she used to play The Legend of Zelda when she was growing up.
Now, Hollywood scooper DanielRPK has revealed that Schafer really is in talks to play Princess Zelda. And if you weren’t already convinced, check out this unexpected Euphoria scene.
Euphoria scene showcases Hunter Schafer’s range
While Schafer’s performance as Jules never falters in the HBO show, her turn in the special episode ‘F*ck Anyone Who’s Not a Sea Blob’ is a career-defining moment, as demonstrated in the heart-wrenching opening scene.
Taking place shortly after Jules and Rue (Zendaya) separated at the train station in the Season 1 finale, and her confrontation with Nate (Jacob Elordi), the episode opens with Jules’ first session with a new therapist.
Here, Schafer is laid bare in every sense of the phrase. With no makeup, lingering close-ups, and dialogue that unpacks everything from gender identity to guilt and grief, she’s undeniably compelling.
She emanates a full range of emotion – pain, hesitation, anger, and self-protection – but there’s a vulnerability too, one that makes every word feel like it’s breaking through years of buildup.
Jules speaks about the realization that her online crush was really Nate manipulating her, and the pressure she felt to help Rue stay sober, revealing that her mother, too, was an addict, which reshapes our perception, not only of her but of their relationship.
All of this builds to a climax where she expresses how overwhelmed she felt, and how this was the catalyst for her running away. “I left someone I really love behind,” she says, before bursting into tears.
Schafer can bring The Legend of Zelda to life
Crucially, Schafer didn’t just act in this episode, she co-wrote it – and that intimacy shows. In one moment, she discusses femininity, reiterating what she says elsewhere in Euphoria.
“I feel like I’ve framed my entire womanhood around men. When, like, in reality, I’m no longer interested in men,” she tells her therapist, who responds, “You’re not crazy, Jules. You’re just a lot harder on yourself than you probably should be.”
She later adds, “I feel like my entire life, I’ve been trying to conquer femininity, and somewhere along the way, I feel like femininity conquered me.”
It feels like something she has lived in. Her vulnerability is on full display, and it adds layers to Jules that we didn’t even know were possible – not just as a character, but as a human being trying to survive in a world that keeps asking too much.
Although they are worlds apart in tone and subject matter, it’s this kind of emotional precision that makes Schafer such a great choice for The Legend of Zelda. The upcoming live-action adaptation has fans excited, but also understandably anxious.
Translating such a beloved game to the screen means giving iconic characters like Princess Zelda real emotional stakes – they can’t just look the part, they have to feel human. They need quiet strength, internal conflict, and a performer who can make magic and myth feel grounded.
That scene in Euphoria proves Schafer can do just that. She’s already played a girl who holds the weight of the world – and someone else’s life – on her shoulders. That sounds a lot like a princess we already know.
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