Summary
TheBorderlandsfranchise has amassed a passionate following of players through the years. With each new entry, players have flocked to the first-person shooter for the great characters and interesting stories that developer Gearbox has told. The cutthroat world ofBorderlandsis filled with violence and indulgent humor that has kept the series quite successful.
Borderlandsremains a unique franchise in the gaming industry, and its fascinating lore and characters ultimately inspired a live-action film adaptation. First announced back in 2015, theBorderlandsmovie saw a series of internal shakeups with its planned directors and writers. Eventually, horror icon Eli Roth took over the project. Now, with the movie’s release date here,theBorderlandsmovie isn’t off to a great start. However, it could at least open the franchise up to a completely new audience.
Borderland’s Approach to Characters May Repel Players But Attract Non-Gamers
Expanding Borderlands' Reach
Since the first cast reveals and trailer for theBorderlandsmovie were announced, many players have met the movie adaptation with a healthy dose of skepticism.The casting forBorderlandshas been quite controversial, as many of the actors starring in the film are fantastic at what they do, but seem to be odd choices. From Cate Blanchett as Lilith to Jamie Lee Curtis as Dr. Patricia Tannis, the movie seems to be betting on big-name stars instead of being thoughtful with its casting.
However, this could ultimately draw those not familiar withBorderlandsinto the franchise.Borderlandsis a gaming staple to many, but it’s not as much of a household name as the likes ofSuper Mario Bros.orFortnite. Eli Roth playing loose and random with theBorderlandsmovie’s story and character choices could prove to be a solid method of getting a fresh audience interested in the games, which could benefit the franchise in the long run.
On the other hand, this approach could really backfire when it comes to the game’s core audience. Many who have experienced the games have questioned this live-action adaptation from the beginning, and previews leading up to the film have only strengthened that worry.Borderlandscharacter choicesare clearly focused on the most notable names from the series, but not honoring the stories of the games throws the franchise’s established continuity out the window. This likely won’t sit right with many longtime players, as it could make the movie feel more like fan fiction than a substantial addition to the franchise.
Early Feedback Spells Trouble For a Larger Cinematic Universe
At the time of this writing, the Rotten Tomatoes score for theBorderlandsmovie sits at a devastating 3%. Early critical reviews have not signaled promise for the movie’s performance at the box office. Ultimately, this could actually end up beingbad for theBorderlandsfranchiseas a whole. If the movie has a poor box office performance, that will definitely squash any possibility of a further cinematic universe, but it could be bad news for the games as well. A disappointing movie reflects badly on its source material, andBorderlandsis too fun of a series to be branded with the consequences of a bad adaptation.
With the current upswing in live-action adaptations of video games,Borderlandscould serve as a warningto future attempts at bringing another game to the silver screen. The haphazard way in which the casting and story have come together doesn’t bode well for futureBorderlandsproductions. However, if Roth’s interpretation can at least get unfamiliar audience members interested in the series, then that is at least a win for the overall franchise.
