Elden Ring fans have the perfect pick for the movie's protagonist – and it's not the Tarnished, Melina, or even Miquella

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(Image credit: From Software)

We're about to head to The Lands Between on the big screen with news of the Alex Garland-directed Elden Ring movie.

But, beyond that, the FromSoftware-esque fog stretches ahead of us, obscuring what exactly an adaptation of the 2023 modern masterpiece is going to be about – or even who the story will focus on.

If you're still plundering your way through the likes of Stormveil Castle and the Weeping Peninsula, you might not have butted heads – and clashed swords – with Vyke just yet. It's safe to say, however, that he has one of the more compelling narratives (of course, being FromSoftware's wont, this is tucked away in item descriptions and snatches of lore dumps throughout your journey).

Before The Tarnished arrived, Vyke was – in effect – the closest to achieving what the player would go on to do. He had worked to re-assemble the Elden Ring with the aim of becoming the Elden Lord. However, he was later turned mad by the Frenzied Flame after chasing after a lost love, and players can later fight him in the Mountaintop of the Giants.

In true Elden Ring fashion, we never hear Vyke's full story. That makes it ripe for further exploration in a big-screen adaptation, with one fan writing, "I think he is the perfect character to tell a story about. He's not some godly character that takes 4-5 movies to explain his story, but he's also not some random nobody… Also his story of turning down a chance at ultimate power for the sake of love for a woman who's essentially viewed as a tool, only for it to end in a fate worse than death is just SO PEAK as a story."

Garland isn't just a formidable auteur, mind. He's long since proven his Elden Ring chops, taking down everyone from Mohg to the Elden Beast – several times over.

Bradley Russell

I'm the Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you'll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.

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