Elden Ring is already filming at A24’s London production, and leaked set photos and videos are giving away far more than the studio probably wanted. The movie is due on March 3, 2028, and the leaks point to a film that’s not just borrowing the game’s look, but putting major locations and characters front and centre. That matters because fans can now see how Alex Garland seems to be translating FromSoftware’s world into live action.
Shortlist’s set photos place the production at Old Royal Naval College in South London, where the site appears to stand in for Leyndell, the Royal Capital. A24 has already set the release date for March 3, 2028, which gives the studio plenty of time to finish a project that still has a lot of secrets around it. For players, the real hook is simple: these leaks suggest Garland isn’t making a vague fantasy riff, but a film that reaches straight for some of Elden Ring’s most recognisable sights and names.
About Elden Ring
A24 is producing the Elden Ring movie adaptation, and writer-director Alex Garland is handling the film. The studio announced a March 3, 2028 release date on Monday, and it also revealed a cast that 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. That cast list gives the adaptation some real weight, even if A24’s announcement stayed light on story details.
For players, that matters because a film like this lives or dies on whether it feels like Elden Ring or just another prestige fantasy project with the name slapped on. A24’s casting and Garland’s involvement suggest the studio wants something more deliberate than a quick brand exercise. The leaks now give that promise some shape, and they point to a production that understands which parts of the game fans will clock immediately.
Leyndell, Stormveil Castle, and the Academy of Raya Lucaria
The leaked set photos show Old Royal Naval College being used for more than one location. The site apparently stands in for Leyndell, the Royal Capital, and the images back that up with Leyndell Knight armor, embroidered Erdtree banners, and college windows dressed in the wax-sealed coverings seen in the game. In practical terms, that means the film is chasing the game’s grand, ceremonial look rather than stripping the city down into generic fantasy stonework.
Other props suggest the same location may also serve as Stormveil Castle and the Academy of Raya Lucaria. The source ties Stormveil Castle to Godrick the Grafted, while the Academy of Raya Lucaria is where players face the Red Wolf of Radagon and Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon. That kind of location reuse makes sense for a film shoot, but it also tells players Garland wants these places to feel part of one connected history instead of isolated set pieces.
- Old Royal Naval College in South London is standing in for Leyndell, the Royal Capital.
- Set photos show actors in Leyndell Knight armor.
- Leaked images show embroidered Erdtree banners.
- College windows are covered with the wax-sealed look seen in the game.
- The same site may also be used for Stormveil Castle scenes.
- The same site may also be used for Academy of Raya Lucaria scenes.
That approach should matter to anyone who remembers how distinct these spaces feel in Elden Ring. Leyndell’s scale, Stormveil’s brutality, and Raya Lucaria’s academic menace all carry different moods, and the set leaks suggest the film is trying to preserve those identities. If Garland gets that balance right, the adaptation could feel like a real tour through the game’s political and visual DNA instead of a generic fantasy mash-up.
Extras, Dung Eater, and the film’s timeline
Photos and videos from the set show dozens of extras, including merchants, soldiers, residents, and children. That crowd gives the production a busier, more lived-in Leyndell than the one players know from Elden Ring, where the capital feels far more desolate. The difference matters, because a populated city implies a story set before the worst of the collapse, when the world still had enough order to support ordinary life.
Wednesday’s leaked video pushed that idea further by showing the loathsome Dung Eater will appear in Garland’s film. Filmmakers also appear to be recreating his public execution scene from the game’s opening cinematic, which is the sort of detail fans will spot instantly and argue about for weeks. That’s not just fan service for its own sake; it anchors the movie in a specific moment from the source material rather than treating the lore as decorative wallpaper.
Other shots show Kit Connor’s unrevealed character and what appears to be Emma Laird as Queen Marika walking through Leyndell. Previous leaks also showed a live-action version of a battered and broken Church of Marika, which strengthens the theory that the film takes place before the game and may move between time periods. That would let Garland focus on the familial drama, the violent struggle for power, and the devastation that led to the Shattering.
Key Takeaways
- A24’s Elden Ring movie started filming this week in London.
- Set photos place production at Old Royal Naval College in South London.
- The leaks point to Leyndell, Stormveil Castle, and the Academy of Raya Lucaria appearing in the film.
- Video from the set shows Dung Eater will appear, and the production appears to be recreating his public execution scene.
- Leaked shots also show Kit Connor’s unrevealed character and what appears to be Emma Laird as Queen Marika.
What This Means for Players
This is a smart move from A24, at least on paper. The leaks show a production that’s leaning into named places, named characters, and specific visual details from Elden Ring, which gives the adaptation a better shot at pleasing players who care about the game’s identity. A bustling Leyndell, Leyndell Knight armor, and the Erdtree banners all suggest the film understands what fans will recognise in a split second.
At the same time, the leaks also raise the usual adaptation question: how much can a film compress before it starts flattening the source material? Garland seems to be aiming for the pre-game era, which gives him room to cover the shattering of the Elden Ring and the power struggle around it. That could work well, especially if the movie uses the Church of Marika and the Dung Eater execution to anchor the timeline, but it’ll need discipline to avoid turning rich lore into a highlight reel.
Fans have already responded by combing through the unofficial photos and videos, spotting details and inferring that fan-favourite characters and locations will make the cut. That kind of reaction usually means the material is doing at least one thing right: it looks like Elden Ring, not a random fantasy film wearing the logo. Whether the finished movie can keep that energy after the set leaks stop is the real test.
For now, the next thing to watch is how A24 handles the rest of the rollout before March 3, 2028. More casting details, more location reveals, and more leaks are likely to surface as filming continues in London. If Garland keeps grounding the film in the game’s most recognisable places and characters, this adaptation might actually have a shot.