A24's Elden Ring film heads to AFM with reported $175M-$200M budget; Amazon MGM takes pay-1 rights
A24's Elden Ring adaptation, directed by Alex Garland, is going to the American Film Market with a reported budget of $175M-$200M, which would make it the biggest-budget standalone project sold at a market. Amazon MGM Studios has reportedly taken international pay-1 streaming rights.
1 / 3
The story, neutrally told
Centre · 1A24's Elden Ring, a fantasy adaptation of the video game, is going to the American Film Market (AFM) in Los Angeles, where Deadline says it will be the biggest-budget standalone project ever on sale at a film or TV market. DeadlineN “A24‘s fantasy video game adaptation Elden Ring is heading to the American Film Market where it’ll be the biggest-budget standalone project ever on sale at a film or TV m” Read at Deadline ↗ Centre · 3Deadline, citing sources, put the budget between $175M and $200M, closer to the top of that range; Screen Rant relayed the figure from Deadline, and Collider, citing The Wall Street Journal, said it approaches $200 million. DeadlineN “We hear from sources the budget is being pegged between $175M-$200M, but closer to the latter” Read at Deadline ↗ Screen RantN “They report that the project's budget is between $175 and $200 million” Read at Screen Rant ↗ ColliderN “with a production budget approaching $200 million” Read at Collider ↗ Centre · 1Collider said that makes it A24's most expensive film, against a previous record of $60M-$70M reported for Timothée Chalamet's Marty Supreme, and well above the $100 million earlier rumoured for the adaptation. ColliderN “A24's previous budget record was held by Timothée Chalamet's Marty Supreme, which reportedly cost between $60 million and $70 million.” Read at Collider ↗
Centre · 1Deadline said the budget exceeds earlier tentpoles at markets, including the latest Hunger Games film, and that Mel Gibson's Resurrection of the Christ films carry a near-$200M price tag but across two films. DeadlineN “Mel Gibson’s upcoming Resurrection Of The Christ films came with a near-$200M price tag but across two films.” Read at Deadline ↗ Centre · 1Deadline reported that Amazon MGM has taken a number of international pay-1 streaming rights off the table in a deal it understands covers many markets and that sources speculate is worth tens of millions of dollars; it also said the deal could lead to activations on Amazon's Twitch platform. DeadlineN “Amazon MGM has pre-empted that interest by taking a bunch of international pay-1 streaming rights off the table in a big deal.”“We hear the deal could also potentially lead to interesting activations on Amazon’s Twitch platform.” Read at Deadline ↗ Centre · 1Screen Rant explained that pay-1 rights cover the first subscription-streaming window after theatrical and premium video on demand release, speculated the film could go to Prime Video, and noted A24's existing US pay-1 deal with HBO. Screen RantN “Pay-1 rights mean that Amazon MGM holds the rights to the movie when it first becomes available on subscription streaming”“A24 already has a pay-1 deal with HBO in the United States” Read at Screen Rant ↗
Centre · 1Deadline said A24 is fully financing the movie, that some international buyers may be disappointed not all rights are available, and that A24, Amazon and the producers declined to comment. DeadlineN “A24, which is fully financing the movie, will have needed/wanted at least one studio partner at that budget.”“A24, Amazon, and producers declined to comment.” Read at Deadline ↗ Centre · 2The film is written and directed by Alex Garland; production began in April and wrapped on July 30, and it is now in post-production with Industrial Light & Magic. ColliderN “Production began in April and wrapped on July 30” Read at Collider ↗ DeadlineN “Garland wrapped over the summer and is now in post with Industrial Light & Magic.” Read at Deadline ↗ Centre · 2Kit Connor stars alongside Ben Whishaw, Cailee Spaeny, Tom Burke, Havana Rose Liu, Sonoya Mizuno, Jonathan Pryce, Ruby Cruz and Nick Offerman, and Deadline said Connor plays the protagonist; Collider also lists Emma Laird and Peter Serafinowicz. DeadlineN “Cast includes Kit Connor, Ben Whishaw, Cailee Spaeny, Tom Burke, Havana Rose Liu, Sonoya Mizuno, Jonathan Pryce, Ruby Cruz, and Nick Offerman.” Read at Deadline ↗ ColliderN “Emma Laird (Mayor of Kingstown), Ruby Cruz (Bottoms), Peter Serafinowicz (Guardians of the Galaxy)” Read at Collider ↗
Centre · 1Deadline said the script is closely guarded, with A24 flying staff to international buyers so they can read it in person; it reportedly runs at least 180 pages, and a presentation, possibly with footage, is planned at AFM. DeadlineN “A24 is flying members of its team directly to international buyers for them to read the script with the staffer present.”“There is due to be some kind of presentation at the AFM, potentially with footage.” Read at Deadline ↗ Centre · 2Producers include Peter Rice, Andrew Macdonald and Allon Reich of DNA, and George R.R. Martin and Vince Gerardis; Martin wrote the story the game is based on and helped develop its backstory with FromSoftware's Hidetaka Miyazaki. DeadlineN “Newly minted Netflix CCO Peter Rice is producing the movie alongside Andrew Macdonald and Allon Reich from DNA, as well as Martin and Vince Gerardis.” Read at Deadline ↗ ColliderN “Martin helped develop the game's backstory and mythology alongside creator Hidetaka Miyazaki” Read at Collider ↗ Centre · 2Release is set for March 2028 in theatres and IMAX, with Collider giving the date as March 3, 2028; Deadline said no sequel has been reported. DeadlineN “Release is set for March 2028 in theaters and IMAX.”“we've heard nothing so far about a sequel being in the works” Read at Deadline ↗ ColliderN “Elden Ring is currently scheduled to arrive in theaters on March 3, 2028.” Read at Collider ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre3 outlets
- Framing
- Trade and entertainment outlets treat it as a business story about scale: record budget, Amazon's pre-emptive rights deal and buyer appetite at AFM. Deadline broke it as an exclusive, Screen Rant summarised Deadline, and Collider led with George R.R. Martin and the cost.
- Emphasis
- Budget size, the Amazon pay-1 deal, secrecy around the script, cast and creative team, release date.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Screen Rant and Collider give little on the market dynamics or script secrecy Deadline reports; none has comment from A24 or Amazon; Collider omits the Amazon deal.
- Charged language
- “eye-watering”“Record-Breaking Budget”“Reportedly Confirmed”
- For example
-
“All-rights asking prices at that budget would have likely been record-breaking and eye-watering.” — Deadline
“Elden Ring Movie’s Record-Breaking Budget Reportedly Confirmed As Amazon Joins Epic Fantasy Adaptation” — Screen Rant
“a gigantic financial leap for a company that's best known for smaller, indie fare” — Collider
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Elden Ring is A24's adaptation of the video game, going to the American Film Market.
- The reported budget is up to roughly $200 million.
- The film is in post-production after filming wrapped.
- Amazon MGM Studios has taken international pay-1 streaming rights (Deadline, Screen Rant).
Where accounts differ
-
Source of the budget figure
- Centre
- Deadline cites unnamed sources for $175M-$200M; Collider attributes a figure approaching $200M to The Wall Street Journal; Screen Rant relays Deadline and says it is 'reportedly confirmed'. A24, Amazon and the producers declined to comment, so none is officially confirmed.
-
Elden Ring's budget is roughly $175M-$200M, making it A24's biggest ever.
Reported- Supports 1
- Deadline
- Reports 2
- Collider, Screen Rant
-
Elden Ring has finished filming and is in post-production.
Reported- Supports 1
- Deadline
- Reports 2
- Collider, Screen Rant
A24 organisation
A24 is reported to be fully financing the film and taking it to AFM; it declined to comment.
“A24, which is fully financing the movie, will have needed/wanted at least one studio partner at that budget.” — Deadline
“A24, Amazon, and producers declined to comment.” — Deadline
Amazon MGM Studios organisation
Amazon MGM is reported to have taken international pay-1 streaming rights ahead of AFM; it declined to comment.
“Amazon MGM has pre-empted that interest by taking a bunch of international pay-1 streaming rights off the table in a big deal.” — Deadline
George R.R. Martin person
Martin wrote the story the game is based on and is a producer on the film.
“the game is based on a story written by Game of Thrones originator George R.R. Martin.” — Deadline
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre3 articles
-
Neutral Exclusive deal-focused report on market positioning, Amazon's rights pre-emption and buyer dynamics, based on unnamed sources.
-
Neutral Short follow-up of Deadline's report that explains pay-1 rights and speculates on streaming homes.
-
Mixed Martin-centred piece on A24's costliest film, citing the WSJ, padded with Game of Thrones asides and a house quiz.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 27 Oct 15:17 First DeadlineN A24’s Fantasy Epic ‘Elden Ring’ Heads To AFM As The Biggest Movie Ever On Sale At A Market; Amazon Joins Pic Starring Kit Connor
- 27 Oct 15:40 +23m Screen RantN Elden Ring Movie’s Record-Breaking Budget Reportedly Confirmed As Amazon Joins Epic Fantasy Adaptation
- 27 Oct 15:46 +28m ColliderN Forget 'The Winds of Winter,' George R. R. Martin's New Epic Fantasy Is Reportedly A24’s Most Expensive Movie Yet
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
Ask about this story
Loading…