The long-standing “video game movie curse” has not only been broken; it has been dismantled. Following the critical and commercial triumphs of recent adaptations, the industry is now pivoting toward high-fantasy epics that demand immense scale and atmospheric precision. Currently, two of the most influential titles in the genre are transitioning from consoles to cinema, with recent Zelda and Elden Ring filming updates suggesting that both productions are taking distinct, ambitious approaches to world-building.
While both projects aim to translate sprawling, open-world exploration into a linear narrative, they are at very different stages of development. One is nearing the end of its primary photography, leveraging the natural landscapes of the Southern Hemisphere, while the other is quietly laying the groundwork in the United Kingdom, favoring a more curated, architectural approach to its early set construction.
For fans of the “sword-and-sorcery” aesthetic, these updates signal a broader trend in Hollywood: a shift away from purely CGI-driven environments in favor of tactile, location-based filming that mirrors the immersive quality of the games themselves.
The Legend of Zelda: Drawing from the Middle-earth Playbook
The live-action adaptation of The Legend of Zelda, directed by Wes Ball, has moved into the final stages of its primary production. Filming has been underway in New Zealand since November, and the production is expected to wrap within the coming weeks. This timeline suggests a theatrical release is targeted for next year.
Recent reports indicate that the production has been heavily utilizing the Otago region, specifically the town of Glenorchy. The choice of location is a strategic nod to the history of fantasy cinema; the mountains and riverbeds of Otago served as the primary canvas for Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy. By filming in these areas, Ball is tapping into a landscape that has already successfully stood in for iconic realms like Rohan and Lothlórien.
The use of New Zealand’s southern island provides a natural grandeur that minimizes the reliance on green screens, allowing the vastness of Hyrule to feel grounded and lived-in. This approach aligns with the visual language of the recent Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom titles, where the environment acts as a primary character in the story.
Elden Ring: A24’s Surrealist Approach to the Lands Between
While Zelda is sprinting toward post-production, the Elden Ring adaptation is moving with the deliberate, slow-burn pace characteristic of its studio, A24. Directed by Alex Garland—known for the cerebral and visually striking Ex Machina and Civil War—the project is currently in pre-production.
Evidence of the film’s early stages has surfaced via social media. Footage shared by a Twitch streamer on TikTok appears to show the construction of ruins resembling the Church of Marika, a pivotal landmark in the game’s opening area, Limgrave.
Though not officially confirmed by the studio, the leaks carry significant weight due to the presence of equipment from Hedgehog Construction. Based near Windsor Great Park in the UK, this firm specializes in high-end scenery for film and television. Further footage showed the constructed church being camouflaged by tarps and guarded by security, a common practice for A24 productions seeking to maintain secrecy.
Filming for Elden Ring is expected to commence later this year, with a projected cinema release around 2028. Given Garland’s penchant for atmospheric tension and A24’s history of subversive storytelling, the film is likely to lean into the gothic, melancholic tone of FromSoftware’s creation rather than following a traditional blockbuster formula.
Comparing the Production Paths
The contrast between these two projects highlights two different philosophies of gaming adaptations. Nintendo and Sony are pursuing a sweeping, cinematic epic with Zelda, while A24 is treating Elden Ring as a prestige piece of genre cinema.
| Project | Director | Current Status | Primary Location | Target Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Legend of Zelda | Wes Ball | Principal Photography | New Zealand | Next Year |
| Elden Ring | Alex Garland | Pre-production | United Kingdom | ~2028 |
The Stakes for Live-Action Gaming Adaptations
The success of these films will likely determine how studios handle “open-world” IPs in the future. The primary challenge for both Ball and Garland is the translation of player agency—the feeling of discovering a world at one’s own pace—into a scripted experience. Zelda must balance its whimsical adventure roots with the scale of a modern epic, while Elden Ring must convey a fragmented, cryptic lore without alienating viewers who have never stepped foot in the Lands Between.
The involvement of A24 suggests that Elden Ring may be positioned as an “art-house” fantasy, focusing on the psychological weight of its world. Conversely, the Zelda production’s reliance on New Zealand’s vistas suggests a film designed for maximum visual awe and broad accessibility.
As the Zelda production nears its wrap in New Zealand, the industry will be watching for the first official teaser or casting announcement from Nintendo. For Elden Ring, the next major milestone will be the official commencement of principal photography later this year.
We invite you to share your thoughts on these adaptations in the comments below. Do you prefer the sweeping scale of New Zealand or the curated mystery of an A24 production?
