Gaming is a booming market that comes with a young, built-in fanbase.
The plan to bring Elden Ring to the big screen comes after recent successes for adaptations, following years of mixed results.
The latest wave began in earnest with the blockbuster triumph of 2023’s The Super Mario Bros Movie, which has now raked in a staggering $1.4bn (£1.1bn) at the global box office.
One of the film’s stars, Jack Black, told BBC News at the time: “We will be seeing more storytelling from the gaming universe.”
He’s been proved right – and was also on board for this year’s A Minecraft Movie, a global hit that has grossed more than $900m (£666m).
Beyond financials, it’s also seen unprecedented audience participation from younger fans at screenings – many of whom are more accustomed to streaming and gaming than the traditional cinema experience.
It’s no surprise that a spate of other game franchise adaptations are already in the works.
Mortal Kombat and Five Nights at Freddy’s film sequels are due later this year, with Super Mario Bros 2 and a new Resident Evil film hitting cinemas in 2026. A Legend of Zelda movie is also slated for release in 2027.
Yet while cinema has banked on gaming’s mass appeal, it is on the small screen where the depth of modern-day gaming storylines has really shone.
The critically-acclaimed The Last of Us, a post-apocalyptic survival drama centred around the heartfelt relationship between Joel and Ellie – played by Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey in HBO’s Emmy Award-winning live-action version – has proven that affecting, mature storylines can come from games just as readily as child-friendly technicolour.
Amazon’s popular adaptation of politically-tinged nuclear wasteland thriller Fallout is another example.
Elden Ring may look to transfer this grit to the big screen, produced by A24 – a studio known for thought-provoking titles like the Oscar-nominated Aftersun and horror Midsommar.
After all, the franchise is notoriously tough to play and complete, so is definitely not one for younger gamers.
Elden Ring might just be the adult gaming crossover Hollywood is looking for.
Additional reporting by Annabel Rackham and Adam Phillips.