It hardly needed the help, but The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2's rumor mill is operating at maximum capacity now thanks to the new trailer that Nintendo revealed at E3 2021. Fans rejoiced, as it gave them precious glances at everything that they were waiting to see. The new trailer for Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 give peeks at everything from combat adjustments, new settings, and the direction of the plot. Fans are already eagerly speculating on what each frame of the new trailer means, and some theories have already cropped up as favorites. One theory that reigns supreme above most others is arguably the most outlandish. Some fans believe Ganondorf is the hero of Breath of the Wild 2, not Link.
At a glance, the theory seems completely unbelievable. Ganondorf and his beast form Ganon are Link's historic nemeses, and they've never shown any inclination toward saving or protecting Hyrule. Why would Ganondorf suddenly turn over a new leaf in Breath of the Wild? Although that question is hard to answer, there's still some interesting clues that make fans wonder what Nintendo is planning. It certainly doesn't seem likely that Nintendo wants to turn The Legend of Zelda's overarching narrative on its head and make Ganondorf the player character. However, the Breath of the Wild series of games already defies Zelda tradition in a lot of ways, so it could be the perfect time for a Ganondorf redemption arc.
Examining Breath of the Wild's Clues
Long before Nintendo showed a new Breath of the Wild 2 trailer at E3, fans were already speculating about what Ganondorf's role in Breath of the Wild really was. Breath of the Wild famously features a tapestry supposedly showing an incarnation of the legendary Hero defeating Calamity Ganon with the help of the princess and a Sheikah-powered army. What's odd about the tapestry's depiction of the hero is that his skin and flowing hair are much redder than Link's usual depiction. The tapestry's princess, meanwhile, is pretty faithful to traditional Zelda depictions. The tapestry makes it look a lot more like a Gerudo is the one defeating the Calamity, which naturally makes fans think of Ganondorf.
The opening to the E3 2021 Breath of the Wild 2 trailer raises more questions than it answers. In the beginning, fans see Link's arm being assaulted by Malice, the presumed corpse of Ganondorf rising up, and Zelda falling out of frame. What could this possibly mean? Some fans believe the way Link is depicted in the rest of the trailer speaks to that. Oddly enough, fans never see Link's front or face during the gameplay sections, and in many shots he's wearing a tunic similar to what the corpse of Ganondorf is wearing. Maybe that's a hint that it isn't Link at all, but the reincarnated Ganondorf.
Some more abstract aspects of the trailers could also indicate Ganondorf's involvement. For instance, some fans believe that the recurring theme of music played in reverse, as well as the emphasis on exploring Hyrule's ancient past, suggest that Breath of the Wild 2 will involve time travel. If it does, it could be that an ancient Ganondorf from ten thousand years ago is somehow transported from his time to the current Hyrule. Alternatively, the reversal of time could undo Ganondorf's death altogether and let him step back into life in the current Hyrule. If elements like these really did come together, then a playable Ganondorf could be on the table.
How Likely is a Heroic Ganondorf?
How plausible is it that this is actually what Nintendo is planning, though? There's definitely a few stumbling blocks that could thwart the Ganondorf theory. For instance, even though the theoretical Ganondorf's face is never shown in the gameplay trailer, he looks nothing like a Gerudo due to his light skin and flaxen hair. It would be baffling if Ganondorf was revived or reincarnated as a Hylian and not a Gerudo in Breath of the Wild 2. The character doesn't really have the proportions of Ganondorf either, since he's usually depicted as taller and more muscular than Link. Unless it's a major reimagining of the character, it's hard to see how Breath of the Wild 2's depicted protagonist could secretly be Ganondorf.
There's also lore questions that Nintendo would have to address. Ganondorf isn't just a rogue villain who could have a change of heart. He's a powerful warlock eternally hunting for the Triforce and favored by the Triforce of Power, plus he's the manifestation of the demon king Demise's eternal hatred for the legendary hero. If Breath of the Wild's Ganondorf became cognizant of that dark legacy and tried to defy it, that would be a fantastic story for Nintendo to explore, but it's unclear if that's even possible. While some versions of Ganondorf are simply ruthless, cunning warlords, The Wind Waker's version of Ganondorf was a little more sympathetic, claiming he tried to conquer Hyrule to better the Gerudo's lives. Maybe the BotW Ganondorf is a more feeling figure like his Wind Waker incarnation, and that was enough for Ganondorf to turn to Hyrule's side.
Ganondorf's Future in The Legend of Zelda
Nintendo hasn't confirmed it explicitly, but at this point, it seems clear that Ganondorf plays a role in the Breath of the Wild sequel. One wonders what exactly happened thousands of years ago that resulted in Ganondorf being pinned beneath a spectral green hand somewhere in the depths of Hyrule -- perhaps right under Hyrule Castle. One obvious answer is that this is yet another way that Ganondorf was sealed away after the goddess Hylia's chosen hero defeated him. However, the contrast of the Calamity's Malice with the green energy that flows into Link's arm makes one wonder what exactly is going on with Ganondorf.
Malice itself is mysterious, but since Nintendo is emphasizing The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword again, fans have to wonder if it's the demon king Demise's returning power. If Demise is rising as a villain, rather than his avatar Ganondorf, it could explain how Ganondorf is separate from Demise now. Maybe Breath of the Wild's Ganondorf defied Demise, who wanted to reincarnate himself in Ganondorf's body, and in the process Ganondorf's soul was separated from his body. If that's the case, the lich-like Ganondorf may actually be Demise, while the spectral hand keeping him at bay is Ganondorf himself, sealing the demon king inside his own body. Since the arm's magic seems to flow into Link, it could be that Link and Ganondorf are sharing a body now, and that Ganondorf is lending Link his magic.
This other theory could be wrong, but it's mainly meant to suggest that Ganondorf doesn't have to be the player character to become a hero. There's compromises that Nintendo could go for while still giving Ganondorf a second chance. It'd be really exciting for Ganondorf to become a hero and help Link and Zelda break Demise's reincarnation cycle. The Legend of Zelda's future would both be left in doubt and open to endless possibilities with Demise defeated for good. Link was always intended to be The Legend of Zelda's main hero, and that probably won't change just yet. However, Ganondorf could still have a central role in Breath of the Wild 2 as a redeemed hero.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 releases in 2022 for Nintendo Switch.