A24’s “Elden Ring” adaptation could run close to three hours, based on the length of Alex Garland’s screenplay, which would make it one of the longest studio fantasy films in years. Deadline reported Tuesday that the script spans at least 180 pages, including visuals. A24 has not confirmed a runtime.
The page count carries weight because of an old screenwriting rule of thumb that one page equals about one minute of screen time. It is a rough guide, and editing often reshapes a film’s final length. Garland has history here: he reportedly completed a 160-page draft with 40 additional pages of imagery before A24 closed the deal with FromSoftware and Bandai Namco in Japan.
The length matches the film’s price tag. Deadline put the budget between $175 million and $200 million, closer to the higher figure, which would make it A24’s most expensive production. Amazon MGM Studios has secured pay-1 streaming rights in numerous international markets, though A24 remains responsible for financing the film.
A24 is guarding the story. The studio has sent staff to sit with prospective international buyers as they read the screenplay, and it has withheld certain sections to prevent spoilers. The script is circulating ahead of the American Film Market in Los Angeles, where buyers typically commit to territories. The film is already in post-production.
The cast reflects the scale. Kit Connor, Ben Whishaw, Cailee Spaeny, Tom Burke, Havana Rose Liu, Sonoya Mizuno, Jonathan Pryce, Ruby Cruz and Nick Offerman are attached. Garland is shooting in IMAX, and the film opens in theaters on March 3, 2028.
Garland faces a creative puzzle as much as a logistical one. The 2022 game, directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki with a mythology from George R.R. Martin, won game of the year at The Game Awards. Its story reaches players in fragments, through item descriptions and cryptic dialogue.
Observers have speculated that a long script suggests fans will finally get a fuller account of that story on screen. A three-hour cut would also test audiences, since the biggest fantasy and prestige epics of recent years have tested the limits of theatrical patience. For now, the runtime stays an estimate. A24 has said nothing on length, and test screenings and editing over the next year will decide what reaches IMAX screens.
