Filming on Elden Ring's A24-backed live-action film adaptation is now underway, and leaked on-set footage has given fans their first real look at how Alex Garland's movie is handling one of the game's strangest opening moments. The film is in production at A24 and Bandai Namco has already confirmed the adaptation, with the release date set for 3rd March, 2028. For players, this matters because the leak suggests the movie isn't sanding off the game's weird edge — it's leaning straight into it.
Quick Facts — Elden Ring
| Developer | FromSoftware |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Bandai Namco |
| Release Date | 3rd March, 2028 |
The cast includes Jonathan Pryce, Nick Offerman, and Peter Serafinowicz, and A24 has set aside "well over" $100m USD for what it calls its "largest and most ambitious project". Filming is expected to last around 100 days, so more leaks are likely before cameras stop rolling. That should keep interest high for anyone wondering whether this adaptation can capture the game's tone without turning into a very expensive cosplay reel.
About Elden Ring's Film Adaptation
Bandai Namco confirmed last year that FromSoftware's fantasy hit was getting a live-action film adaptation, and A24 is producing it with Alex Garland directing. That pairing alone explains why this project has drawn so much attention. Garland gives the movie a filmmaker with a clear visual identity, while A24's backing suggests the studio wants something bigger than a routine game-to-film job.
A24 has also framed the project in unusually grand terms, calling it its "largest and most ambitious project" and putting aside "well over" $100m USD. That kind of spend raises expectations fast. If the movie lands, it won't just be another adaptation that flatters the source material from a distance; it could become a genuine tentpole for game films.
The Leaked Dung Eater Scene
The latest leak comes from UnBoxPHD on YouTube and shows the Loathsome Dung Eater being introduced in live action. According to the footage, the scene recreates the game's opening moment with the character hanging from the gallows while projectiles fly through the air. That's the sort of image that only makes sense in Elden Ring, and the movie seems to know it.
The leak also suggests a very specific visual joke. Rather than leaving the projectiles vague, the film appears to interpret them as assorted vegetables, and the footage clearly includes lettuce being hurled at the Dung Eater. That sounds absurd, but it's also a smart way to translate a game moment that lives on its strange mood rather than on literal realism.
One line from the source sums up the reaction neatly: "Excuse me, what?" The same reaction fits the leaked footage, especially when the narrator says, "mild movie spoilers incoming, obviously" before describing the scene. The source also notes, "I definitely spotted a whole lettuce there," and adds, "if the movie doesn't include narrator Jimmy Livingstone rousing himself into a euphoric frenzy over that lettuce, just like he does in-game, I'll be seriously miffed."
What the Other Leaks Suggest
This isn't the only clue fans have seen. Recent leaks have also hinted at familiar locations, and one glimpse of Marika suggests the movie may concern itself with events before The Shattering. That matters because it points to a story that could sit earlier in the timeline rather than simply retelling the game's best-known beats. For players, that opens the door to a film that expands the setting instead of just recycling it.
Still, the Dung Eater footage is the most revealing leak so far because it shows the production trying to preserve the game's tone through practical staging and a very odd visual gag. The costume looks close enough to sell the character, and the vegetable barrage gives the scene a blunt, almost deadpan comic rhythm. That feels like the right call. If Garland and A24 are serious about making this work, they need to embrace the bizarre bits, not file them down.
Key Takeaways
- A24 is producing the live-action Elden Ring adaptation with Alex Garland directing.
- Bandai Namco confirmed the film adaptation of FromSoftware's game last year.
- The cast includes Jonathan Pryce, Nick Offerman, and Peter Serafinowicz.
- A24 has set aside "well over" $100m USD for what it calls its "largest and most ambitious project".
- Leaked footage from UnBoxPHD shows the Loathsome Dung Eater scene in live action.
- The leak shows assorted vegetables, including lettuce, being thrown at the Dung Eater.
- Recent leaks have hinted at familiar locations and a glimpse of Marika.
- The movie may concern itself with events before The Shattering, and it opens in cinemas on 3rd March, 2028.
For now, the big question is whether the finished film can keep this same oddball confidence all the way through. A cheap-looking adaptation could have played the Dung Eater scene for a gag and stopped there, but this production sounds like it's aiming higher than that. If the rest of the movie follows suit, players may get something that feels genuinely born from Elden Ring rather than merely licensed from it.