Riot Games is taking the next major step in expanding the
League of Legends universe, and this time, it's heading into live-action. Following the massive success of
Arcane, the Annie-winning animated series set in Piltover and Zaun, Riot is officially setting its sights on a new project—a
League of Legends live-action TV series. For now, it's still a rumor, but meetings between Riot Games representatives and Vietnamese officials have confirmed that a project is in development, with filming rumored to begin in late 2025.
Riot is scouting locations for filming
According to a
Facebook post from the Vietnamese tourism office, Vietnam’s Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism recently met with representatives from Riot Games and a film production crew to discuss filming logistics for the ambitious project. The meeting, which the Vietnamese government publicly acknowledged through a Facebook post, marks the first step in a collaboration that could bring one of
LoL’s most infamous regions to life.
Picture of Cát Bà in Vietnam, a place looking a lot like the Bilgewater region.
Negotiations are still underway. Riot has already expressed a keen interest in filming at Cát Bà. This breathtaking archipelago of 367 islands along Vietnam’s southeastern coast is the perfect backdrop for a series set in either Bilgewater or the Shadow Isles. Given the rugged cliffs, deep blue waters, and maritime atmosphere of Cát Bà, all signs point toward Bilgewater—League of Legends’ treacherous pirate haven—as the setting for the upcoming series. Other locations considered included Japan, South Korea, and Thailand, but Cát Bà seems to have been ultimately chosen as the ideal setting.
Bilgewater is a lawless, pirate-infested port city in League of Legends, known for its cutthroat criminals, sea monsters, and black market trade. Credit: Riot Games
Vietnam’s government has also emphasized the importance of environmental preservation during filming. Minister Nguyễn Văn Hùng reaffirmed that while Vietnam is eager to host international film productions, it will not sacrifice environmental conservation for economic gain. The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism will collaborate with Hải Phòng authorities to ensure that the production aligns with Vietnam’s ecological and cultural values.
The next chapter after Arcane?
Arcane Season 2 wrapped up in November 2024, generating such excitement around the
League of Legends universe that
fans were already eagerly awaiting what’s next. Beyond rumors of a follow-up under a different name to explore new regions like Noxus or Ionia, this series is the first concrete step toward a new cinematic project set in the
LoL universe. Characters like Miss Fortune, Gangplank, Twisted Fate, Illaoi, and even Viego could appear. The character lineup is expected to closely resemble that of
Ruined King: A League of Legends Story, a game that delved deep into Bilgewater and the Shadow Isles.
With filming rumored to start in late 2025, fans may have to wait a while before the series officially debuts. However, Riot’s dedication to high-quality storytelling and world-building suggests that this live-action venture will again be one worth watching.
Header Photo Credit: Riot Games
