Where Is the Cast of the Fantasy Epic ‘Legend’ Now?
Legend premiered in the United States on April 18, 1986, after first debuting at the Venice Film Festival in August 1985, and it remains one of the most visually ambitious fantasy films of the decade. Directed by Ridley Scott and written by William Hjortsberg, the film stars Tom Cruise, Mia Sara, and Tim Curry in a fairy tale story about a young hero trying to stop the Lord of Darkness from plunging the world into eternal darkness.
Made on a reported $25 million budget, the production was known for its elaborate practical effects, including massive soundstage forest sets built at Pinewood Studios and groundbreaking prosthetic makeup work led by Rob Bottin. While Legend underperformed at the box office, earning about $23.5 million worldwide against its budget, it has steadily gained a cult following, particularly after the release of the restored director’s cut in 2002.
In honor of its 40th anniversary this year, let’s find out what the main cast is up to now.
Tom Cruise (63)
Jack
Everett Collection; Paramount Pictures/Everett Collection
Tom Cruise took on the role of Jack at a pivotal moment in his early career, appearing in Legend just before Top Gun made him a true star. By the time he filmed Legend, he had already been in a few of his most famous films: Risky Business, The Outsiders, and All the Right Moves. After Legend, Cruise quickly transitioned into major blockbuster roles, including Rain Man (1988), Born on the Fourth of July (1989), which earned him a Golden Globe and his first Academy Award nomination, and Jerry Maguire (1996), which brought another nomination and a Golden Globe win. He later starred in the long-running Mission: Impossible franchise as Ethan Hunt, while also producing many of his own films through Cruise/Wagner Productions.
In recent years, he returned to his roots with the massive box-office success Top Gun: Maverick (2022) and the Mission: Impossible series. His most recent film, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025), marks the latest chapter in the franchise.
Off-screen, Cruise’s personal life has often drawn significant attention. He has been married three times, to Mimi Rogers, Nicole Kidman, and Katie Holmes, and his long-standing involvement with the Church of Scientology has been controversial.
Cruise has spoken about how filming Legend was not his favorite project, and how the film changed his career moving forward. He told Rolling Stone that his character was “another color in a Ridley Scott painting,” and that “I’ll never want to do another picture like that again.”
Mia Sara (58)
Princess Lili
Everett Collection; Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Mia Sara made her film debut as Princess Lili in Legend with very little prior screen experience. Before the film, she had only appeared in the soap opera All My Children, making Legend her first major film project. Just a year later, Sara reached a much wider audience with Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986), where she played Sloane Peterson, a role that remains her most recognizable. She continued working steadily through the late ’80s and ’90s, including a lead role in the miniseries Queenie (1987) and a notable role in Timecop (1994), for which she earned a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Her television work included roles in Time Trax and Birds of Prey, where she played Dr. Harleen Quinzel, an early live-action version of Harley Quinn. Sara stepped away from acting in 2013, marking a long hiatus from the industry, before returning more than a decade later with a role in The Life of Chuck (2024).
Tim Curry (80)
Darkness
Universal Studios; Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Tim Curry turns 80 on April 19, 2026, arriving just one day after Legend marks its April 18 US Premiere anniversary, making it an especially fitting time to revisit one of his greatest roles. By the time he took on the role of Darkness, Curry had already become a cult figure through The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), and director Ridley Scott specifically cast him after seeing that performance. The role of Darkness was physically demanding, as Curry spent roughly five and a half hours each day in full prosthetic makeup that covered nearly his entire body and included massive horn structures. At the end of filming days, the removal process alone could take an additional hour.
Curry continued to build a career defined by distinctive roles across film and television, including Clue (1985), It (1990), where he played Pennywise, and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992). He also became a prolific voice actor, with major roles in The Wild Thornberrys and Star Wars: The Clone Wars. After suffering a major stroke in 2012, Curry stepped back from on-screen acting and has since used a wheelchair, though he has remained active through voice work and occasional appearances.
David Bennent (59)
Gump
Universal/Everett Collection; Gerald Matzka/Getty Images for Studio Babelsberg
David Bennent was just 17 years old when he appeared in Legend as Honeythorn Gump, the gentle forest creature who helps guide Jack. Coming into the role, Bennent was already known internationally for his performance in The Tin Drum (1979), which he starred in at just 11 years old, a role that drew significant attention and controversy at the time.
Born in Lausanne, Switzerland, Legend remains one of his most recognizable English-language roles, though much of his career has been in European film and theater. He has appeared in films like Michael Kohlhaas (2013) and Happy as Lazzaro (2018), while also maintaining a steady presence on stage, including productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Peer Gynt.
In Memoriam
Universal Studios; Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images
Alice Playten, who played Blix, died on June 25, 2011, at the age of 63, from heart failure following complications from juvenile diabetes and pancreatic cancer.
Billy Barty, who appeared as the goblin Screwball, died on December 23, 2000, at the age of 76 from heart failure.
Where to Watch Legend
You can rent it wherever you rent movies on platforms such as Amazon Prime Video.
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