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

Tingle creator Takaya Imamura has voiced his ideal casting choice for the character in the upcoming live-action Zelda movie! Read on to learn more about his dream choice for the role of Tingle.

Takaya Imamura Revealed His Dream Pick for Tingle in Zelda MovieDon’t Worry; It’s Not Jason Momoa Nor Jack Black

Many questions linger regarding the upcoming Legend of Zelda movie. Who will wield the Master Sword? Will Princess Zelda rock a flowing gown or a warrior’s attire? But amidst the speculation for Link and Zelda, another burning question simmers: Will the balloon-loving Tingle grace the silver screen, and if so, who should don his green tights? Well, Takaya Imamura has recently revealed his dream casting choice.

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

Oka is best known for his scene-stealing performance as Hiro Nakamura in Heroes. After Heroes and its sequel series, Heroes Reborn, he has worked on plenty of movies and shows that show his wide range. From action flicks like Bullet Train and The Meg to the critically acclaimed Hawaii Five-O reboot, Oka’s comedic timing and infectious enthusiasm are a perfect match for Tingle’s boundless energy. It helps that his signature "yatta!" pose in Heroes closely resembles Tingle's poses in certain artwork.

Whether director Wes Ball will consider Imamura's suggestion to heart or even include Tingle in the film remains to be seen. However, Ball did describe the Zelda movie as a "live-action Miyazaki" film, and Tingle's eccentric balloon-selling antics might align with the often whimsical nature of Miyazaki’s works. So, there's still a chance, perhaps.

The Legend of Zelda live-action movie was first announced back in November of 2023, and is set to be directed by Wes Ball and produced by Shigeru Miyamoto and Avi Arad. "I want to fulfill people’s greatest desires," Ball shared back in March of 2024. "I know it’s important, this [Zelda] franchise, to people and I want it to be a serious movie."

For more on The Legend of Zelda live-action film, you can check out our article below!