They can make Zelda a deuteragonist to Link. Depending on the story and gameplay, of course. That may end up badly.
It won't work. LoZ is supposed to be an epic hero's journey to save the land and it's peoples. The metaphorical representation of the land and it's peoples is the princess. What is the point to the hero if the princess (the land and it's people) can take care of themselves?
Link may as well stay home and herd goats or fish or whatever it is he's doing when he isn't saving the world.
LoZ is supposed to be an epic hero's journey to save the land and it's peoples.
Yeah and that happened. in Breath of the wild. BotW2 is dealing with the world and it's people recovering from the century long calamity they survived under. What better way to show the world and it's people recovering then Zelda, as you put it, the representation of such, being a playable heroine?