Elden Ring Could Be A24’s Costliest Film
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Sources cited in new trade reports place the budget at $175 million to $200 million; Amazon MGM also reportedly acquired international streaming rights ahead of AFM.
The live-action Elden Ring film could become the most expensive project in A24’s history. Sources cited by Deadline place its budget between $175 million and $200 million, closer to the upper end. The same report says Amazon MGM Studios has secured pay-one streaming rights in a broad group of international markets ahead of the film’s presentation at the American Film Market (AFM) in November. A24 has not confirmed the figures or deal terms, and the movie’s runtime has not been announced.
Reported budget approaches $200 million
The range reported by Deadline is an industry-source estimate, not an official production figure. Even the $175 million lower end would put the adaptation on a different scale for A24, a studio associated with auteur projects and more controlled budgets. The trade report describes Elden Ring as the company’s biggest film investment to date and says A24 is financing the movie in full.
The figure stands out because this is not simply a prestige bet. It is an adaptation of a globally recognized franchise, with elaborate settings, fantastical creatures and battles that may require extensive visual effects. The reported production budget should not be confused with a final cost or a marketing spend. No public budget breakdown, A24 confirmation or explanation of how the money is divided among production, post-production and other expenses is available.
The estimate has also changed since earlier coverage. In April, reports described the production as costing more than $100 million; the new range presented to the market would roughly double that reference point. Because the figures remain attributed to unnamed sources, the careful conclusion is that the movie may fall in this range, not that A24 has confirmed a final $200 million budget.
Amazon MGM reportedly secures international rights
Another major point in the report is Amazon MGM Studios’ entry into the distribution package. The company is said to have acquired pay-one streaming rights across a large number of international territories. In this model, a platform buys an online exhibition window after a film’s theatrical run. The report does not name the countries involved, give a streaming date or identify which service would carry the movie in each region.
According to Deadline, the deal was completed before AFM, and sources estimate it could be worth tens of millions of dollars. That valuation has not been confirmed by the companies either. The arrangement matters because it removes some international rights from the pool available to buyers seeking broader packages at the market. The report also says A24 is expected to handle North American theatrical distribution and that, after its U.S. cinema window, the film is expected on HBO Max under A24’s output deal for that territory.
Those details must be understood region by region. Amazon’s international agreement does not mean it controls worldwide rights, nor does it settle the movie’s future in Brazil. No public announcement has identified a Brazilian streaming platform, a digital release date or availability elsewhere in Latin America. Theatrical distribution also remains a separate window from the digital arrangements described in the trade coverage.
A long script does not confirm a three-hour movie
The screenplay is another detail drawing attention at the market. Sources told Deadline that the document runs to at least 180 pages, including visuals. That length has prompted speculation that the finished movie could approach three hours, but the calculation is only an inference: a screenplay and a final cut are different things, and the filmmakers have not announced a runtime.
The report says the script is being closely guarded ahead of AFM. A24 team members are reportedly traveling to read it directly to prospective buyers in sessions attended by a company representative. Some portions are said to be withheld to prevent spoilers. That approach signals how carefully the adaptation is being presented, but it does not reveal the complete plot or establish which game events will make it into the film.
According to the report, Kit Connor is expected to play the protagonist and lead the story. Sources also mentioned battles with monsters and dragons, elements that fit the game’s world but have not been officially described as scenes or plot points. The project has not released a trailer, and a possible footage presentation at AFM has not been confirmed.
What is officially confirmed
Bandai Namco and A24 have confirmed that Alex Garland will write and direct the adaptation. It is being filmed for IMAX and is scheduled to open on March 3, 2028. Bandai Namco’s announcement said production would begin in spring 2026. With more than a year remaining before release, editing, effects and commercial plans may still evolve.
“Filmed for IMAX and released on March 3, 2028.”
The confirmed cast includes Kit Connor, Ben Whishaw, Cailee Spaeny, Tom Burke, Havana Rose Liu, Sonoya Mizuno, Jonathan Pryce, Ruby Cruz, Nick Offerman, John Hodgkinson, Jefferson Hall, Emma Laird and Peter Serafinowicz. George R. R. Martin is a producer after contributing to the game’s mythology. The ensemble spans several genres and generations, but individual roles have not been officially detailed, apart from information about Connor attributed to sources.
The official announcement describes the feature as a live-action adaptation of FromSoftware’s fantasy role-playing game. Released in 2022 and created under Hidetaka Miyazaki’s guidance, the game pairs exploration across a vast world with dungeons and demanding combat. Bandai Namco says the franchise has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide. That commercial reach helps explain why the production could attract distribution partners and calls for a large international campaign.
The scale of the bet—and what remains unknown
Turning Elden Ring into a film means more than adapting a familiar story. In the game, players discover parts of the narrative through item descriptions, landscapes and encounters, while choosing the pace of exploration. A feature film must select a dramatic line and guide the audience through it. The filmmakers will need to translate that structure without assuming every viewer knows the mythology or has played the game.
The reported budget may create room to build the world and stage action, but it does not guarantee an artistic or commercial outcome. The result will also depend on the screenplay, direction, editing, marketing and audience response. Reports of a large-scale production help measure A24’s commitment; they do not predict whether the film will be faithful, run for a specific length or receive a sequel.
For fans, the next concrete milestones are the presentation expected at AFM and the 2028 release. A trailer date, runtime, rating, ticket sales and country-by-country streaming deals have not been officially announced. Follow the O Santuário Geek’s coverage of video games and film and television. The confirmed release date, director and cast are listed in Bandai Namco’s official announcement; budget and deal figures remain reports attributed to sources by Deadline.