A Borderlands movie is in the works, courtesy of Lionsgate, and it will be looking to capture the over-the-top violence and in-your-face attitude that Gearbox software's game series is known for.
As Variety reports, Lionsgate announced the adaptation on Friday, attaching producers Avi and Ari Arad to the project. The two have been involved in bringing major franchises like Iron Man, Blade and The Amazing Spider-Man to the screen — so they are definitely not strangers to the world of film adaptations.
No other details – like director, cast or a possible release date – have been released at this time. However, Borderlands publisher 2K issued this statement about the in-the-works film project:
"Lionsgate has emerged as a major creative force in the global marketplace with an incredible portfolio of brands; our partners at Gearbox have pioneered and cultivated an iconic property; and Avi and Ari Arad are two of the most successful producers of action franchises," Take-Two Interactive Chairman and CEO Strauss Zelnick said.
"This alliance is ideally positioned to create a bold, provocative, no-holds-barred motion picture phenomenon that will delight ‘Borderlands" current legions of fans and captivate moviegoers around the world."
The game series follows various teams of treasure hunters in search of a legendary Vault on the backwater, wasteland world of Pandora, in a future where megacorporations rule with an iron fist. From a gameplay perspective, the series is a blend of RPG and first-person shooting elements, as players pick one of the game's numerous unique Vault Hunters and improve their various skills by completing quests and defeating enemies. The game places a huge emphasis on loot — specifically the thousands upon thousands of unique guns that players can discover.
Borderlands is also known for its cel-shaded art style, sense of humor and Mad Max-inspired world. The game's psycho enemies are reminiscent of the deranged War Boys seen in Mad Max: Fury Road, with Pandora even looking a bit like the deserts of an apocalyptic Australia. The whole series is filled with clever writing as well, often with hilarious results.
So far, there have been four entries in the series: two from Gearbox in the form of Borderlands 1 and 2, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel from 2K Australia, and Tales from the Borderlands, a spin-off by Telltale Games. Which game the movie will be adapting (if any) is unclear, but here's to hoping it's as entertaining as the game series has proven to be.
Curious what other video game movies are in the works? Check out this list of some game movies that just might be worth watching.
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