Riot Games seems to be working on a live-action League series, and Vietnam could be where it all starts.
After the success of Arcane, Riot Games appears to be moving forward with a live-action adaptation of League of Legends. New information from Vietnam points to the Cat Ba Islands as the potential filming site for the series.
On March 12, Vietnam’s official government Facebook page reported that Riot is planning a 9-episode series, and that Cat Ba is being considered as the main location. While Riot hasn’t publicly confirmed the show, the information is coming from government sources, making it feel more credible than mere speculation.
Riot Games Officials Met With Vietnam’s Culture Minister
Two days before the Facebook post, on March 10, Vietnam’s Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, Nguyễn Văn Hùng, met with Riot representatives to discuss the project. Among the people present were Rose Lamb, a producer for The Last of Us TV show, and Nicholas Simon, CEO of Indochina Productions, a Vietnamese production company.
While the translated title given to Lamb was “global production director,” her history on successful game-to-screen projects suggests Riot is aiming for high-quality storytelling. The Last of Us was widely praised for staying true to the game’s tone and characters.
Simon commented that the series could be a great chance to bring attention to Vietnam as a location for international productions.
Why Vietnam?
Riot reportedly considered several countries in Asia including Japan, Korea, and Thailand, before leaning toward Vietnam. According to Lamb, Cat Ba made the most sense for their creative and production needs.
Cat Ba is known for its islands, rocky coastlines, and scenic views. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage site, meaning it’s protected by strict environmental rules. The location is fueling guesses among fans about where in League of Legends the story might take place.
Some are pointing to Bilgewater, the pirate city with a similar ocean-based setting, while others are thinking about the Shadow Isles, with its darker and more isolated feel. Ionia is also possible due to its island layout and strong connection to nature.
Vietnam Offers Strong Governmental Support – But With Conditions
The Vietnamese government seems interested in working with Riot on the series. They’ve mentioned plans to help with permits and possibly provide visa waivers for the production team.
But government officials also made it clear that protecting Cat Ba’s environment is a top concern. Minister Nguyễn Văn Hùng stated that while the country is open to welcoming large productions, it would not allow the filming to harm the area’s natural surroundings.
So, Riot will need to work within environmental rules and collaborate closely with local authorities if they want to move forward.
Riot Is Building a New Setup for Film and TV
Reports from Vietnam also mentioned some internal changes at Riot. The company is said to be creating two separate teams for content development — one focused on animation and one on live-action. Christian Linke, who helped create Arcane, is reportedly leading the animation team.
This lines up with Riot’s ongoing efforts to tell more stories from the League universe. They’ve already confirmed three new animated series based on Noxus, Ionia, and Demacia, one of which started production in 2023.
The live-action show looks like it could be the next major step in that plan.
So far, Riot hasn’t officially announced the live-action series. There’s no confirmed story, cast, or release window yet. If the reports are accurate, filming could begin sometime in 2025 but that could always change.
What’s clear is that with experienced producers involved and government support from Vietnam, there’s real potential behind this project.
Source: Gosu Gamers
