How Ninja Theory’s Hollywood Ambitions Paved the Way for an Elden Ring Movie

Microsoft is currently in negotiations to either shut down or grant independence to Ninja Theory, the studio behind the recently revealed title Senua. While the future of the tenured developer hangs in the balance just eight days after their latest showcase appearance, the studio’s influence on the intersection of gaming and film remains undeniable—most notably in the path it cleared for the upcoming Elden Ring movie.

The Hollywood Blueprint

Ninja Theory’s history of blurring the lines between games and cinema began in 2009. After building a reputation with titles like Heavenly Sword, founder Tameem Antoniades pitched their next project, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, to Hollywood studios as a CGI film. When that failed to gain traction, the studio pivoted to game development, eventually partnering with Bandai Namco.

Crucially, the studio brought in screenwriter Alex Garland to refine Enslaved. Garland, then known for his work on 28 Days Later and Sunshine, took an active role in design. He pushed to strip away excessive exposition, favoring a model where narrative information is conveyed primarily through gameplay and environmental cues. Antoniades later credited these as the correct decisions, noting that Garland’s presence was intimidating but ultimately transformative for the project.

From DmC to Elden Ring

The collaboration continued with the 2013 reboot DmC: Devil May Cry. Working with Capcom, Garland served as a script and story supervisor, helping the studio craft a gritty, punk-rock-inspired take on the franchise. While the game faced mixed reactions regarding its lore changes, it cemented a specific approach to cinematic action that Garland would carry into his solo directing career with films like Ex Machina and Civil War.

This history proved vital for the Elden Ring adaptation announced in 2024. Drawing on his years of experience navigating the unique demands of game narratives, Garland produced a 160-page spec script for the FromSoftware title. He traveled to Japan to pitch the concept directly to director Hidetaka Miyazaki, successfully securing the rights to bring the world of Elden Ring to the big screen.

Without the collaborative framework established at Ninja Theory—a studio that consistently pushed to treat action games with the narrative weight of a AAA film—the specific creative pipeline that led to this adaptation might never have materialized. As Ninja Theory potentially closes its doors, its legacy continues to manifest in the very medium they once sought to conquer.