Alex Garland’s Elden Ring Film Should Capture the Essence of Fantasy Warfare

Sure thing, here’s a reimagined take:

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So, you’re sitting there with this crazy idea: who should direct an Elden Ring movie? Honestly, I’d probably land on someone like Peter Jackson or Guillermo del Toro. You know, the usual fantasy big shots. Maybe even drag Miguel Sapochnik in—guy knows how to orchestrate chaos on screen with those Game of Thrones epics like Battle of the Bastards. Then again, if you want a film that messes with your head, drag Robert Eggers or Yorgos Lanthimos into the fray. Bong Joon Ho could give it that odd twist too. But, um, probably not Alex Garland. Or so you’d think.

Here’s the twist though: studio A24 plucked Alex Garland for this gig. Yeah, the same dude from Ex Machina and Annihilation—stuff that doesn’t exactly scream “epic fantasy.” No dragons or legendary swords here. You’ve got to wonder what’s rolling around in Garland’s head to make this happen.

At first blush, Garland and Elden Ring don’t mix, right? Sci-fi is his jam, but hardcore fantasy? That’s a whole different beast. Those FromSoftware games—Dark Souls and Bloodborne—rely on subtleties, little details tucked away like secrets in the game’s framework. Contrast that with Garland’s works, which like to talk, explore, and hammer out character arcs.

Yet maybe he’s up for it—reinventing himself isn’t really new for Garland. Look, he’s dipped his toes in different waters before, so why not dive headfirst into this?

Plus, Garland’s not some suit with no gamer cred. He likes his games. His appreciation for Resident Evil shaped 28 Days Later. Even The Beach aimed for its own quirky game-vibe. So maybe Alex isn’t so left-field after all.

Funny side note, Warfare, one of his flicks, feels a bit like Elden Ring when you think about it. That whole being-outgunned-and-outnumbered vibe? Yeah, it’s there. Swap modern warfare settings for some crumbling fantasy ruins? Makes you shiver, right?

The buzz is Garland might cast Kit Connor from Warfare—you’ve got the makings of a gripping movie that’s more suspenseful than grandiose. Grabbing from his own filmography could make this Elden Ring adaptation tick.

Bottom line, Elden Ring isn’t your typical hero’s tale. It’s gritty, unrelenting, a journey where the player almost becomes a ghost in their own story. If Garland captures that, we might have something special hitting the big screen someday. So, here’s hoping for a surreal ride that dives deep, much like a dungeon crawler would. Or not. Who knows what’ll actually hit us?

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(Just check out Tim Brinkhof—he’s penned for awesome places like Vox, Slate, and more.)