Elden Ring creators keep hinting at an Elden Ring movie

Elden Ring creators Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin seem to be hinting that a movie (or TV series) based on the open-world fantasy role-playing game is coming — or at the very least, they’re trying to will one into existence, based on recent comments from the two Nebula Award winners.

In a recent interview with The Guardian, Elden Ring director and FromSoftware president Hidetaka Miyazaki said, “I don’t see any reason to deny another interpretation or adaptation of Elden Ring, a movie for example.” He noted that FromSoftware doesn’t have “the knowledge or ability to produce something in a different medium” and would need to rely on a “very strong partner” to make it happen.

“We’d have to build a lot of trust and agreement on whatever it is we’re trying to achieve, but there’s interest, for sure,” Miyazaki concluded.

A few days after that interview was published, Elden Ring lore co-creator George R.R. Martin cheekily wrote on his blog, “Oh, and about those rumors you may have heard about a feature film or television series based on Elden Ring… I have nothing to say. Not a word, nope, not a thing, I know nothing, you never heard a peep from me, mum mum mum. What rumor?”

Elden Ring publisher Bandai Namco has hinted at an expansion of the game’s universe for two years now, hailing the game as the start of a new franchise. When FromSoft and Bandai Namco announced in 2022 that Elden Ring had sold 12 million units in its first month, the companies said, “Please look forward to more of Elden Ring as an IP […]) in hopes of expanding beyond the realm of games.”

“Much effort was placed into creating Elden Ring in order to exceed the expectations of our fans worldwide,” said Yasuo Miyakawa, president and CEO of Bandai Namco Entertainment, in that announcement. “With a similar goal, we will continue our efforts in expanding the brand beyond the game itself and into everyone’s daily life.”

FromSoftware’s other games, including Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, have been adapted to other entertainment media, mainly in the form of manga and comic books that expand each title’s story. Elden Ring has also been adapted to manga form, but as a comedy starring a clueless Tarnished named Aseo who is pathetically struggling to become Elden Lord. Presumably, any bigger-budget adaptation of Elden Ring would take a more serious approach.

While neither FromSoftware nor Bandai Namco have officially announced a film or TV adaptation of Elden Ring, it appears the game’s creators are on board. Such a project would give Martin another opportunity to not complete The Winds of Winter, and give FromSoftware much bigger exposure outside of games.

But what would an adaptation of Elden Ring even look like? Likely not a direct adaptation of the events of the game, but as an expanded version of the lore that leads up to the setting of Elden Ring. Existing prior to the playable portion of this universe is a sprawling medieval fantasy political drama that involves complex familial and romantic relationships, political power struggles, and just a tiny bit of incest. Not only is that a proven recipe for Martin, a prequel outlining the lore of Elden Ring would certainly go a long way to helping its more than 25 million players understand what the hell is going on.