This week, the long-anticipated live-action Legend of Zelda film officially cast West Side Story actress Cailee Spaeny as Princess Zelda. The casting announcement follows months of speculation that Euphoria star Hunter Schafer, a transgender actress and fan favorite, was in consideration for the role. While some trans fans expressed disappointment, conservative media outlets, including Breitbart, have mischaracterized that reaction, falsely claiming a coordinated attack by a so-called “trans mob” against Nintendo.
Let’s be clear: no such “mob” exists.
At TransVitae, we covered the initial rumor of Hunter Schafer’s potential casting back in May, praising her talent and noting the predictably performative outrage from anti-trans voices. At the time, Schafer’s fans were excited by the possibility of her embodying the magical and complex character of Zelda, especially given her otherworldly presence and experience in genre storytelling.
But casting speculation is not confirmation. And when Cailee Spaeny was officially announced, reactions across fan communities were largely neutral to positive. Some trans fans expressed disappointment that Schafer wasn’t chosen, but that’s not unusual for fans invested in dream casting. Others were quick to support Spaeny, with many noting her strong performances and resemblance to the character.
What did not happen was a wave of coordinated outrage or harassment toward Nintendo or Spaeny. That narrative, manufactured by Breitbart and parroted by bad-faith commentators online, is part of a broader effort to frame any trans visibility in media as dangerous or overly demanding. It’s the same rhetorical playbook used against Barbie, The Last of Us, and countless others: weaponize social media discourse, exaggerate isolated comments, and frame marginalized people as bullies.
Hunter Schafer herself has not commented publicly on the casting, and there is no evidence she was ever formally attached to the project. The fan speculation was exactly that, fan-driven. And even Schafer’s supporters have largely taken the news in stride.
As noted in CBR’s coverage, some fans pointed out that Schafer seemed like a perfect fit for the ethereal fantasy world of Hyrule. That’s hardly a controversial opinion, nor is it a critique of Spaeny’s abilities. Fans are allowed to imagine and hope for representation, especially in stories that have historically lacked it.
But when bad-faith actors weaponize those dreams to paint transgender people as ungrateful or aggressive, it reinforces a damaging narrative, one designed not to defend fandoms but to push anti-trans ideology under the guise of cultural critique.
The truth? Zelda fans, trans and cis alike, are still excited. The real villains here aren’t casting directors or hopeful trans fans. They’re the ones trying to hijack legitimate conversations for hate clicks.
