According to TheInSneider, “Civil War” breakout Cailee Spaeny is in talks to reteam with director Alex Garland on his next ambitious project — his feature adaptation of “Elden Ring,” the hit FromSoftware video game that has sold over 30 million copies since its 2022 launch.
The fantasy epic, currently in pre-production, is being mounted by A24 and will reportedly mark one of the indie studio’s most expensive undertakings to date. Garland, who has become something of an A24 house auteur, is writing and directing the film, which will star Kit Connor (“Heartstopper”) and veteran actor Ben Whishaw (“Skyfall,” “No Time to Die”).
To date, the most expensive A24-produced movie has been Josh Safdie’s “Marty Supreme,” starring Timothee Chalamet, set for release this Christmas, and which had a reported $70M budget to its name. Given the story and setting of “Elden Ring,” I would imagine it will eclipse that record.
Perhaps the most intriguing name on the producing roster is George R.R. Martin himself — the “Game of Thrones” author who co-created the mythos for the original game and is said to be heavily involved in the film’s story.
Garland, fresh off “Civil War” and “Warfare,” is writing and directing the adaptation of the best-selling video game. The “Ex Machina” and “Annihilation” filmmaker tackling “Elden Ring” surely marks the latest — and largest — in his ongoing collaboration with the indie studio.
This would mark the third collaboration between Garland and Spaeny, who previously worked together on FX’s “Devs” and the recent “Civil War,” which pulled in a solid $127M worldwide on the back of strong critical buzz.
Spaeny’s stock has only risen in recent months — she led “Alien: Romulus” to an impressive $350M global haul and is expected to return for the sequel. She’s also set to appear in two major Netflix projects: Season 2 of “Beef” and Rian Johnson’s next Knives Out installment, “Wake Up Dead Man.” She was also wonderful in Sofia Coppola’s “Priscilla.”
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.