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

Alright, let’s dive into this. So, imagine you can hire any director, literally anyone, to make an “Elden Ring” movie. Who do you go for? I mean, there’s the usual suspects like Peter Jackson or Guillermo del Toro, both of whom scream fantasy, right? Or maybe that Game of Thrones dude, Miguel Sapochnik—he’s good with epic battles. But if you’re feeling artsy, wild even, maybe Robert Eggers or Yorgos Lanthimos? Their stuff’s like, out there. I mean, Bong Joon Ho could be another wild card. Dude knows how to make the strange strangely compelling.

But hey, here’s a twist: Alex Garland. British guy, known for these sci-fi flicks like “Ex Machina” and “Annihilation.” You wouldn’t naturally pair him with something like FromSoftware’s intense, cryptic style. But surprise! A24, that artsy film studio, just handed him the reins for an “Elden Ring” adaptation. Why? Not a clue, but man, it piques interest. Garland’s also writing the screenplay, so he’s got skin in the game—no lazy cash grab here. What’s he plotting? Your guess is as good as mine.

Now, Garland and Elden Ring? Odd combo at first blush. Garland’s known for detailed plot and deep dialogues—stuff you don’t exactly associate with games like “Dark Souls” or “Bloodborne.” Those tell stories through little snippets and the landscapes, not chatty characters. But then, who’s to say Garland can’t jump into fantasy? He’s reinvented before, like with “Warfare” and “Civil War.” Not sure anyone expected those from the “Ex Machina” guy, right? So maybe—just maybe—he’ll surprise us again.

Plus—and this is a nugget even his fans might miss—Garland’s a gamer. Yup, apparently “Resident Evil” got his creative gears grooving enough for “28 Days Later.” And there’s this scene in “The Beach” that’s peak game-inspired. Someone said it’s the nearest we’ll get to a Banjo-Kazooie movie with DiCaprio. Weird, huh?

Speculating here, but perhaps Garland’s diving into “Elden Ring” because he’s got an eye for those dreamy, existential vibes. He once mentioned to Gamespot how Dark Souls is like drifting into a dream—a broken, weird one. Could Garland apply something like his movie “Annihilation” — you know, those trippy visuals? Sure, but maybe, just maybe, there’s another angle: “Warfare.” Garland’s film about Navy SEALs in Iraq. Could oddly fit if you think about “Elden Ring,” with its sense of being way over your head, survival instinct kicking in.

Picture the chaotic ruins of Limgrave replacing Iraq’s battlefields. Suddenly the player—or a Tarnished, in the game’s lingo—faces every threat head-on, feeling lost yet determined. The broad lore with its godly drama might take a backseat to the nitty-gritty, boots-on-the-ground experience.

Rumor mill says Garland’s eyeing Kit Connor from “Warfare” for a lead role. If he’s in, expect that bleak yet exciting tone. And maybe, it’s really the themes of fear and absurdity—in both life and battle—that Garland wants to hit. Seriously, “Warfare” might just be the accidental blueprint for an “Elden Ring” flick. Putting Garland’s knack for psychological depth and gritty action to work, plus learning from some successful adaptations out there like HBO’s “The Last of Us,” maybe this crazy blend will work.

Elden Ring, like, flips the usual hero showdowns into grinding struggles. No flashy moves, just persistence. If Garland nails capturing that gritty journey, it could be cinema magic. Real talk, his take on warfare gives a hint of what to expect when this unfolds on screen.

Okay, wrapping up here. This messy brain dump was brought to you by Tim Brinkhof. I scribble mostly about art and history. Did my journalism stint at NYU, now juggling gigs at Vox, Slate, Polygon, you name it.