The Borderlands franchise has been around in the gaming landscape since the days of the Xbox 360 when it first appeared in 2009, which has proved crucial to 2K games and Gearbox as multiple sequels and spin-offs followed in the wake of the critical and general acclaim. In addition, riding the series’ momentum, it was only natural for Lionsgate Pictures to decide that it was time to bring the looter-shooter to the silver screen, and after years of delays, script changes, and the emergence of video game-related media, having its moment in the spotlight. The film has finally reached release week, with the red carpet premiere, which took place on Tuesday night.
What Made Borderlands Special
Borderlands‘ core was a blend of RPG customization, four-player co-op, and various characters, all of which brought something to the table, guaranteeing that no player would have the same playthrough. That noted the main focus point was the plethora and unlimited supply of guns. In addition, the cel-shaded gameplay and the wide range of enemy types also built the foundation of the overall experience.
One element that fans always gravitated towards was the zany and methodical villains, such as Handsome Jack, during the events of the second game, which felt a bit more fleshed out than the original, that felt like a simple sandbox which left players and even the developers longing for more, thankfully they found the key to success. In addition, Borderlands has also been a financial success for Gearbox, as the series now has a market value of well over one billion dollars.
Most notably, the latest release from the franchise was New Tales from the Borderlands, which follows the TellTale games pattern with players being told to make choices and the story being weaved into multiple directions. Of course, with all this brought forth, it should be known that it’s been about two years since the IP was first introduced in the eyes of the general public. It hasn’t been given as much attention lately.
Here’s what we know:
The studio released an official synopsis for the film, which reads: “Lilith, an infamous outlaw with a mysterious past, reluctantly returns to her home planet of Pandora to find the missing daughter of the universe’s most powerful S.O.B., Atlas. Lilith forms an alliance with an unexpected team. These unlikely heroes must battle alien monsters and dangerous bandits to find and protect the missing girl, who may hold the key to unimaginable power. The fate of the universe could be in their hands – but they’ll be fighting for something more: each other.”
Borderlands is led by Cate Blanchett (The Lord of the Rings) as Lilith, Kevin Hart (Jumanji sequels) as Roland, Jack Black (The Mandalorian) as Claptrap, Edgar Ramirez (Jungle Cruise) as Atlas, Ariana Greenblatt (Ahsoka) as Tiny Tina, Florian Munteanu (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) as Krieg, Gina Gershon (Thanksgiving) as Mad Moxxi, and Jamie Lee Curtis (Knives Out) as Dr. Patricia Tannis.
Rounding out the ensemble is Olivier Richters (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny) as Krom, Janina Gavankar (Star Wars Battlefront II) as Commander Knoxx, Cheyenne Jackson (American Horror Story) as Jakobs, Charles Babaloa (Black Mirror) as Hammerlock, Benjamin Byron Davis (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3) as Marcus, Steven Boyer (Trial & Error) as Scooter, and Ryann Redmond (Heels) as Ellie, among others.
It’s been a long road to get here
After countless years of roadblocks, from being greenlit in 2015 with director Leigh Whannell as the man behind the lens to the project losing traction, only for director Eli Roth to emerge, and even filming during the COVID-19 pandemic to proposed delays and multiple script changes, finally to reshoots taking place under the guidance of Tim Miller(Deadpool) as Roth was already busy well at work on the 2023 slasher Thanksgiving. It was noted that Roth gave Miller the baton to oversee the project for two weeks of minor reshoots. In addition, Zak Olkewicz(Bullet Train) also assisted in the script by crafting additional pages for the reshoots.
The footage for the film looks to be a blend utilizing James Gunn’s ‘Guardians of the Galaxy films, centered around the value of found family with the direction of an unhinged satirical deconstruction of the George Miller Mad Max titles, along with the patent 2000 humor, so the film looks to cater towards hardcore fans, but the eyes of the general public may be a harder sell to attract and get tickets sold. However, the level of game authenticity from consoles to the screen should be noted as a sense of comfort if fans decide to experience the film. Borderlands is slated to drop into theaters this Friday, August 9th.
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