We've been getting heaps of behind-the-scenes leaked footage and images for the upcoming Elden Ring movie directed by Alex Garland. The director was, last time we checked, on his seventh playthrough. While we've seen stills of the sets and an image of Marika with two braids, the biggest news is undoubtedly 37 seconds of footage depicting the Loathsome Dung Eater hanging from the stocks.

A Brutal Glimpse of the Loathsome Dung Eater in the Stocks

The leaked clip shows the character in what looks to be a town square while getting pummelled with rotten food by angry onlookers. It is quite literally just 37 seconds of people hurling food at the poor sod and screaming from the top of their lungs.

In the game, Dung Eater gets hanged in front of a crowd at Leyndell, the royal capital, during the introductory cutscene. However, if the film follows the game's narrative, this won't be the last we see of him. In the source material:

  • His apparition can be found in one of the backrooms of the Roundtable Hold.
  • His real body is located beneath Leyndell in the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds.

The Dark Lore and Backstory

The Dung Eater may be iconic among Elden Ring fans, but he's not a very nice fellow. Before his hanging, he was a Tarnished who murdered and defiled victims with the seedbed curse. This act severed their connection to the Erdtree, cursing them to return as Omen—those horned dudes no one seems to like (sorry, Morgott).

While we don't know how closely the film will coincide with the game's narrative, it is unlikely Garland will change the canon given his status as a massive fan. We may even see a 60-hour silent playthrough if they take it too literally!

Fan Reactions: From "Pee-Pee Poo-Poo Man" to Cinematic Chaos

The mood of fans after seeing the Loathsome Dung Eater clip seems to be elated. The comments under the leaked footage are full of people praising the legendary "Pee-Pee Poo-Poo man" or the "Darstardly Doo-doo Devourer."

Others take it more seriously, with one fan stating, "Amazing shot! Can't wait to see this all coming together." However, another brings it back down to earth: "If they actually say 'The Loathsome Dung Eater' in this movie it's going to be my personal Chicken Jockey."

There are plenty of opportunities for Garland to send cinemas into the same chaotic haze as the Minecraft movie. Potential candidates for meme-worthy cinematic moments include:

  • The Radahn Festival
  • "Bear Witness"
  • Scriptstone messages like "Fort, night", "Try finger, but hole", or just "Dog".

I'm definitely going to watch the Elden Ring movie; I'll just need to mentally prepare myself for another Chicken Jockey moment.