Zelda's Tingle Creator Wants Masi Oka of Heroes Fame to Play Tingle in Movie

Takaya Imamura, the creator of the eccentric Tingle from the Legend of Zelda series, has revealed his ideal casting choice for a potential live-action adaptation! His pick might surprise you.

Takaya Imamura's Dream Tingle: A "Yatta!"-Worthy Choice

Forget Jason Momoa or Jack Black – the question isn't if Tingle will appear in the upcoming Zelda movie, but who should play him. Imamura's answer? Masi Oka.

In a recent interview with VGC, Imamura stated, "Masi Oka. You know the TV series Heroes? The Japanese character who goes ‘yatta!’ I’d like him to do it."

Oka, famed for his role as Hiro Nakamura in Heroes, possesses the comedic timing and infectious energy perfectly suited to Tingle's whimsical nature. His signature "yatta!" exclamation and poses even bear a striking resemblance to Tingle's own iconic mannerisms. His diverse filmography, spanning action films like Bullet Train and The Meg to the acclaimed Hawaii Five-O, further showcases his versatility.

Whether director Wes Ball will heed Imamura's suggestion remains to be seen. However, Ball's description of the film as a "live-action Miyazaki" film suggests a potential openness to Tingle's inclusion, given the often whimsical nature of Studio Ghibli's works.

Announced in November 2023, the Legend of Zelda live-action movie, directed by Wes Ball and produced by Shigeru Miyamoto and Avi Arad, aims for a serious yet fulfilling cinematic experience. Ball himself stated in March 2024, "I want to fulfill people’s greatest desires… I know it’s important, this [Zelda] franchise, to people and I want it to be a serious movie."

For more on the upcoming Legend of Zelda live-action film, check out our related article!