Borderlands is a great shooter RPG series. Spanning multiple generations and platforms. With great characters and humorous game play. It is finally getting a well deserved live-action movie. Hollywood and video games have a rather bad relationship. Very few movies inspired by video games have been met with critical success. And it looks very much like Borderlands may not be an exception to the rule. But what do we really know about the upcoming movie? Who will play Lilith and what about old faithful Claptrap?
When will Borderlands Movie Be Released?
So far we know it is going to be released in 2022. This could change depending on the ongoing pandemic as well as any other issues that movies tend to run into. Hopefully, if there are any delays it will be to make the movie better. But we have very few cast members confirmed.
Who Will be in the Cast?
Borderlands is being directed by Eli Roth. He is known for Death Wish and The House with a Clock in Its Walls. With not many big films to his name, it will be a nice surprise if the film does well. The main protagonists have already been announced as well as the actors that will be playing them:
- Lilith: Cate Blanchett
- Roland: Kevin Hart
- Claptrap: Jack Black
- Tannis: Jamie Lee Curtis
Most of the cast I can see playing their respective characters. The only one I feel weird about is Kevin Hart. Roland is a no-nonsense guy that had very little comedic value to him. Kevin Hart being a comedian may result in a change of character. But maybe for this interpretation, it is good casting. We can only wait and see. I’m certainly not put off by it.
Cate Blanchett will very much suit the character of Lilith. She can play both funny and serious characters from Galadriel to Hela. If she puts in a performance as she did for Hela it will be great to watch. Since both Lilith and Hela have dark and light sides.
Whenever the tone of the games got dark. Claptrap was there to put a humorous spin on it. I couldn’t think of anyone better than Jack Black to play him. Jack Black seems to be making a comeback with roles in Jumanji and the Mario movie that is in production. His comedy will certainly suit Claptrap’s straightforward humor. I wonder if we will get a song from Tenacious D?
Plot Details?
Unlike the video game series. The movie is about Lilith returning to Pandora to find the missing daughter of Atlas. While on the way teaming up with the aforementioned characters to find her. They even bump into Tiny Tina played by Ariana Greenblatt. If they ruin Tiny Tina, I don’t think this movie will do well at all.
There is no mention of any vaults on the website. But, I do expect the ‘key’ to be for one of the vaults on Pandora. Which if we follow the games, will probably lead to sequels of the protagonists becoming vault hunters. I wonder if the crew will bump into any of the vault hunters from any of the other games?
Final Thoughts
I’m looking forward to seeing the movie. But, I’m well aware that it may not be very good. From the plot, it’s already obvious that they are moving away from the source material. Yet, this may work better for the general audience. If its anything like Arcane, it may drive audiences to play the games.
At least we have Tiny Tina’s Wonderland to look forward to.