Rise, Tarnished! An adaptation of FromSoftware’s beloved, best-selling, game-of-the-year-winningElden Ringis officially in the works, withAlex Garlandset to direct the film andA24set to produce. Perhaps FromSoftware’s greatest accomplishment on both a critical and financial front,Elden Ringhas been revered by even the most casual of gamers for its incredible combat, marvelous and detail-rich open world, and bosses that easily rival the best ofFromSoftware’s (equally incredible)Dark Soulsgames. And considering the game’s immense popularity, it was only a matter of time before someone would attempt to adaptElden Ringfor the big screen.
If you haven’t noticed, video game adaptations have been all the rage lately. Fromthe wildly successfulSonic the Hedgehogfranchise, toHBO’s critically-acclaimedThe Last of Usseries, to the recent smash-hitA Minecraft Movie, video game-based movies and shows have been dominating pop culture, with studios only doubling down on the number of game adaptations being fast-tracked into production. But whileSony’s upcomingResident Evilmovie byZach CreggerandWes Ball’sLegend of Zeldaare adapting games with very digestible, overt narratives which any casual player could follow, A24 and Alex Garland’sElden Ringis taking from a source which tells its story in a rather non-traditional way, hiding much of its lore and narrative beats behind exploration and natural occurrence.FromSoftware’s notoriously vague storytellingis admittedly an issue many fans have already voiced their opinions on, and it’s a valid concern. However, there are a couple of reasons whyElden Ringcould potentially be an excellent adaptation despite the uphill battle ahead of it.
How Can the Story of ‘Elden Ring’ Work for an Adaptation?
As previously stated,Elden Ring’s storyis a bit more obtuse than your average video game narrative, but the gist of the story goes as follows:Elden Ringtakes place in the vast lands known as The Lands Between, which has long been blessed by the titular Elden Ring, a metaphysical representation of the land’s rule and order, created by the Greater Will, an outer God. But when The Lands Between’sQueen Marika shatters the Elden Ring, the pieces of the Ring (known as Great Runes) are claimed by the Queen’s demigods, causing complete and utter chaos in The Lands Between. The player takes the role of The Tarnished, an unnamed protagonist who was once exiled from The Lands Between but has since been called back to claim the Great Runes and make the Elden Ring whole once more.
Elden Ring’s characters and story go far deeper than a movie can properly cover, so it’s likely that the film will need to work with the skeleton of the story and keep things in the pocket, focusing strictly on The Tarnished’s quest to acquire the Great Runes and vanquish Radagon, the protector of the Elden Ring and male half of Queen Marika. Considering A24’s knack for low-to mid-budget filmmaking,Alex Garland’s filmwill most likely take a more contained, atmospheric approach to tellingElden Ring’s story.While some fans may see this as a cinematic butchering ofElden Ring’s extensive lore and world-building, fans of Alex Garland know this to be the director’s specialty.
Alex Garland Is the Perfect Choice to Direct ‘Elden Ring’
Anyone who has seenAlex Garland’s sci-fi epic,Annihilation, can attest to the fact that Garland is a remarkable visual storyteller. Garland’s ability to convey atmosphere and history purely within the production design and scale of the worlds he creates is unparalleled, and meshes perfectly withElden Ring’s “show-don’t-tell” style of storytelling, giving Garland yet another chance to craft a visually stunning world for viewers to get lost in.Garland is one of the few filmmakers working today who can tell a compelling story simply by putting a character (or multiple characters) into a lived-in space and just letting them explore and find their way through it, as he has done not only withAnnihilation, but more recently with2024’sCivil Warand even this year’sWarfareto some extent.
Adapting a FromSoftware game is a mighty task, as their games don’t lend themselves to other mediums in quite the same way that games likeUnchartedor the aforementionedThe Last of Usdo. But if any studio/director pairing is going to tackle FromSoftware’s one-of-a-kind masterpiece and give it the translation it deserves, it’s A24 and Alex Garland.While there’s a long road ahead, theElden Ringmovie has undeniable potential.
