Summary
- Gearbox Software’s CEO hints at
Borderlands
Cinematic Universe expansion per IGN conversation with bold plans for the movie franchise. - Borderlands
movie boasts star-studded cast including Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, and Jack Black in roles true to the popular game series. - Anticipation is high for
Borderlands
film’s release in 2024 as fans eagerly await the launch of a potential cinematic universe.
It seems that, like many other movie releases, Borderlands may not be a standalone adventure, but the start of a new Borderlands Cinematic Universe according to Gearbox Software’s CEO Randy Pitchford. Even though the movie is not released until August, it seems that there are some hopeful and ambitious plans already being discussed behind the scenes that would see Borderlands become another sprawling franchise in an increasingly overcrowded video game-to-movie market.
Borderlands
- Release Date
- August 9, 2024
- Director
- Eli Roth
- Runtime
- 102 min
- Studio
- Lionsgate
- Characters By
- The Video Game Borderlands created by Gearbox Software and published by 2K
- Cinematographer
- Rogier Stoffers, ASC, NSC
- Producer
- Ari Arad, p.g.a., Avi Arad, Erik Feig
- Production Company
- In association with Media Capital Technologies, an Arad / Picturestart Production, a Gearbox Studios / 2K Production.
Pitchford unveiled this ambitious plan in a recent conversation with IGN, which would mark a significant upgrade from the original plan, especially considering it has taken almost ten years to bring the film to fruition from its original conception. According to the CEO, the cinematic universe would act as an expansion on the game franchise, which would co-exist alongside it. He said:
“So this isn’t Borderlands 1. This isn’t Borderlands 2. The Borderlands movie is the first of the Borderlands Cinematic Universe. And you’ll see some characters from some of the different parts of what you might know from the video games. But it also gives us an opportunity to get deeper and expand a little bit.”
The Borderlands video game series is renowned for its unique blend of first-person shooter mechanics with role-playing elements, set on the dystopian, treasure-laden planet of Pandora – not to be confused with the Pandora of James Cameron’s Avatar movies. Its distinct style, characterized by its offbeat humor, and eclectic characters, has drawn in a dedicated fan base. For that reason alone, the transition from game to film comes with high expectations and will have to capture the essence of Borderlands’ storytelling and character dynamics to please those fans, while remaining open enough for newcomers to find a way into that world.
Who Stars in the Borderlands Movie?
Borderlands can certainly not be accused of scrimping when it comes to the assembled cast. The film is littered with Oscar-winners including Cate Blanchett as Lilith, Kevin Hart as Roland, Jack Black voicing Claptrap, Jamie Lee Curtis as Doctor Tannis, Ariana Greenblatt as Tiny Tina, and Florian Munteanu as Krieg. Directed by horror-loving Eli Roth, the film certainly has everything it needs to capture everything that makes the games so popular, blending brutal action sequences with the franchise’s unique brand of humor.
What Movies Could Learn From Video Games
With the gaming industry pioneering both technological advancements and storytelling techniques, here’s how movies can learn from video games.
The anticipation surrounding the Borderlands film’s release is mounting following the release of the first trailer for the film. With the promise of a whole cinematic universe in the offing, the question now is whether Borderlands will be able to generate enough interest to warrant a continuation beyond the initial film. With box office success becoming increasingly unpredictable and not a guarantee even for franchises with a huge following, fans of Borderlands will need to back the film in cinemas on its release if they want to see the grand plan continue in the future.
Borderlands
is released on August 9, 2024.
