THERE’S something quietly moving about the idea that Sam Neill still has one more adventure waiting in the wings. The New Zealand actor, who died last month aged 78, finished filming a role in the forthcoming live-action The Legend of Zelda adaptation before his death — meaning audiences will see him on screen again in what’s set to be one of his final appearances.

The role itself is being kept under wraps. Neill’s character hasn’t been announced, leaving fans to do what fans do best: join the dots, swap theories, and picture him in the world of Hyrule.

One popular suggestion floating around game circles is the King of Hyrule — ruler of the fictional fantasy realm that sits at the heart of the Zelda universe. It’s easy to see why that idea has legs: Neill had the kind of presence that could fill a throne without needing to shout about it.

The production timeline is now clearer too. The live-action movie finished filming in April this year and is slated for release next May, putting Neill’s performance firmly in that poignant category of late-career work completed just in time.

Neill died of pneumonia last month. The fact he was able to complete filming beforehand adds a note of closure to the news — not in a sentimental, tidy way, but in the practical reality that the work was done.

For Zelda devotees, the casting adds another layer of intrigue to a film already carrying the weight of expectation that comes with adapting a beloved game. For everyone else, it’s a reminder of how screen acting can outlast the moment it was made in — and how an actor’s goodbye can arrive a little later than the headlines.

If the film does keep his role secret for now, that’s fine. Sometimes the most fitting tribute is simply letting the performance do the talking when the lights go down.