Despite previously hinting at a break from directing, Alex Garland doesn’t seem to be slowing down just yet. The Ex Machina, Annihilation, and Civil War filmmaker is reportedly eyeing his next project — and it’s a surprising one. According to a now-removed report from Nexus Point News, Garland is in talks to helm a film adaptation of Elden Ring, the critically acclaimed dark fantasy RPG, with none other than A24 set to produce.
Originally released in 2022, Elden Ring became an instant cultural phenomenon. Developed by Dark Souls creator Hidetaka Miyazaki and co-directed by Yui Tanimura, the game features worldbuilding and lore co-written by Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin. Set in the hauntingly beautiful Lands Between, the story follows the Tarnished — exiled warriors on a mythic quest to restore a shattered power and rise as the new Elden Lord. It’s brutal, mysterious, and grand in scale — qualities that align naturally with Garland’s signature style.
Garland’s return to epic storytelling seems all the more likely given his current involvement with the 28 Days Later sequel trilogy, including the upcoming 28 Years Later and The Bone Temple, both of which he wrote and is producing. If Elden Ring does become his next directorial venture, it will mark a bold leap into the world of high fantasy — albeit one filled with grotesque demigods and morally murky destinies.
With A24 backing the potential adaptation, expectations will no doubt be high — not just from fans of the game, but from film lovers eager to see what Garland can conjure from such rich, ominous material. Filming is rumoured to begin in 2026. Until then, we wait… perhaps at a Site of Grace.
