UPDATE: TheInSneider has confirmed that Garland is in talks to close a deal to direct what could be the most expensive movie A24 has ever produced. Nexus Point News clearly got some kind of external pressure to take their original scoop down.
After previously hinting at taking a step back from directing, “Civil War” filmmaker Alex Garland isn’t even taking a breather as it looks like that break won’t last long. Garland is teaming up once again with A24 to bring a rather unexpected project to the big screen: a film adaptation of the massively popular video game “Elden Ring.”
This is another clear sign that A24 wants in on the blockbuster game. They are already developing another video game adaptation (“Death Stranding”) and have seen the budgets on their films considerably rise in recent years — “Civil War” cost $50M, and their upcoming “Marty Supreme” is rumored to have been produced in the $60M range.
Originally released in February 2022, “Elden Ring” is a dark fantasy RPG helmed by Hidetaka Miyazaki (Dark Souls) and co-directed by Yui Tanimura, with storytelling contributions from none other than “Game of Thrones” creator George R. R. Martin.
The game’s story follows the Tarnished, a group of outcasts summoned to the mystical Lands Between. Their mission? Reassemble the shattered Elden Ring, defeat a laundry list of grotesque demigods, and ascend to power as the new Elden Lord. Casual stuff.
Garland, known for his cerebral and visually striking work on “Ex Machina,” “Annihilation,” “Civil War,” and this year’s “Warfare,” clearly isn’t easing back into filmmaking gently. On top of that, he’s also involved in reviving the “28 Days Later” series with “28 Years Later” and its sequel, ‘The Bone Temple,’both of which he wrote and is producing.
“Elden Ring” is expected to be Garland’s next directorial venture and is slated to begin filming in 2026. So much for that extended break.
Of course, we all know the rule: take these reactions with a grain of salt rather than treating them as gospel. Still, I will say that the film tested like gangbusters earlier this year, and Lionsgate clearly has confidence.