One of the most-anticipated movies currently in the pipeline is undoubtedly A24’s “Elden Ring.” An adaptation of the best-selling game of the same name from Bandai Namco and FromSoftware, it’s going to be a big movie, and the recently revealed budget and first details have confirmed as much.
According to Deadline, A24 will handle theatrical distribution in North America, but they are selling other rights to buyers around the world. Amazon, for example, has purchased some overseas streaming rights. But the bigger detail is that the report confirms the budget to be at least $175 million, and likely closer to $200 million. A24 knows its cult following won’t cut it anymore at the box office, so they’re taking bigger bets. This is by far their biggest bet to date.
The “Elden Ring” movie adaptation comes from modern sci-fi legend Alex Garland, who previously directed “Annihilation” and “Ex-Machina.” Specific plot details are still largely being kept under wraps. The game itself takes place after the Elden Ring is shattered, focusing on an exiled, nameless Tarnished who returns to the Lands Between, battling demigods and monsters to claim the title of Elden Lord.
Garland wrote the script for the movie. It turns out the director struggled with the same “Elden Ring” video game boss you did, so he’s a real fan with a real understanding of what he’s tackling. As for the script, it’s said to be a whopping 180 pages, meaning it could push three hours. Most plot details are being kept secret, but we do know new some info, which you can read below.
The stakes for Elden Ring couldn’t be higher for A24
A24 is flying members of its team to international buyers for them to read the script with the employee present. What we do know is that Kit Connor (“Heartstopper”) is the movie’s protagonist and it’s said to be “faithful” to the game. Without specifics, the report notes there are “battles between his character and impressive monsters and dragons.” Most intriguing of all? Parts of the script are apparently being held back from buyers in “to avoid spoilers and increase intrigue.” The studio is not letting secrets get out.
Aside from the lack of plot details, the “Elden Ring” movie has one of the best casts ever for a video game adaptation. Cailee Spaeny, Tom Burke, Havana Rose Liu, Sonoya Mizuno, Jonathan Pryce, Ruby Cruz, and Nick Offerman are all on board.
For A24, the stakes could not be higher. The studio has been making more expensive movies as of late, such as “Marty Supreme” ($70 million budget), but this is on another level. Having Alex Garland at the helm makes sense. His 2024 movie “Civil War” became A24’s second movie to ever hit $100 million at the box office. But a movie of this size needs to make hundreds of millions. It’s a big gamble.
The studio is mitigating a lot of that risk by selling off various rights but, ultimately, it’s a $200 million investment that has to pay off. Fortunately, the game sold over 36 million copies and is one of the most acclaimed titles in recent gaming history. The audience is there if Garland delivers the goods.
The “Elden Ring” movie is set to hit theaters on March 3, 2028.