Alex Garland’s film adaptation of Elden Ring has officially begun production, and the initial set footage suggests that it will remain remarkably faithful to the original game. This level of dedication to the source material is a rarity in video game adaptations, where many films tend to take significant creative liberties.
Last week, we highlighted The Super Mario Galaxy Movie as the most authentic video game adaptation ever made. While its quality may be debatable, one argument that cannot be made against it is that it strays too far from the original. In contrast, TV series like The Last Of Us and Fallout have found success by closely following their source material. However, movies often take a more flexible approach, which can lead to mixed results. The more mature themes of a game can sometimes result in greater deviations, as seen when comparing a Minecraft movie to the various Resident Evil films (a new one is set to release soon, directed by Zach Cregger of Weapons).
If the leaked set footage is any indication, this won’t be an issue for Elden Ring. The film is being directed by Alex Garland, known for his work on Ex Machina and Civil War. Given the complex and enigmatic storytelling of Elden Ring, adapting it into live action presents a unique challenge. Explaining too much could diminish the appeal of the original, while keeping things as vague and confusing as the game might alienate casual viewers.
This is a particularly difficult task given the high fantasy world of Elden Ring, which requires a substantial budget to bring to life. Fortunately, the initial shots of the set suggest that the production is off to a promising start.
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The movie has only just started filming, so it’s not expected to be released until at least next year. The footage shows what appears to be the Church of Marika, which looks identical to its in-game counterpart. There are numerous statues of Marika in the game, making it difficult to determine exactly where this church is located within the game world. However, the amount of greenery visible in the footage (and the wet appearance of the environment, indicating it’s filmed in England) suggests it could be the Fourth Church of Marika in the Weeping Peninsula, a location known for constant rain.
The set is not yet fully completed, and there’s no sign of any actors. No official announcement has been made regarding the cast, but rumors suggest that Cailee Spaeny (who worked with Garland on Devs), Ben Whishaw (the voice of Paddington Bear), and Kit Connor (from Heartstopper and who also collaborated with Garland on Warfare) may be involved.
One of the biggest questions surrounding the film is how Garland will handle the protagonist, who is entirely customizable and never speaks—similar to Link from The Legend Of Zelda. It will be interesting to see how this is approached, especially since there’s also a live action Zelda movie in the works.
Beyond the set design, another positive aspect of the production is Garland’s evident passion for the game. He has reportedly played through it seven times, and although he has never directed a fantasy film before, he has experience with science fiction projects that include fantasy elements, such as Dredd and Annihilation. He was also the writer for 28 Days Later and the two 28 Years Later films.
It remains unclear whether the Elden Ring movie will adapt the events of the game directly or serve as a prequel or sequel. Surprisingly, despite being FromSoftware’s most successful game, the studio has stated they have no plans for a sequel.
There is very little information about their current projects, as the only game they have announced so far is The Duskbloods, an exclusive title for the Nintendo Switch 2. It was revealed in 2025 and is supposed to launch this year, but it hasn’t been seen publicly since its reveal. There’s also supposed to be an Elden Ring port for the Switch 2, but that has been notably absent from recent updates.
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