Summary
In the leadup to its release, the live-actionBorderlandsfilm has significantly divided the fan base, primarily due to concerns about its treatment of the lore established by the video game series. In response to all the controversy, Gearbox confirmed that the film takes place in its own universe, but many longtimeBorderlandsfans have still neglected to give the film their support. Nevertheless, Gearbox remains committed to creating a separate cinematic universe for theBorderlandsfilm, which could be highly beneficial in the long run.
Cinematic universes are not uncommon in the world of adaptations. The success of theMarvel Cinematic Universe, for example, has proven over time how a separate universe in which a pre-established world exists can differ from its source material and still be effective. Game Rant had the chance to interview the creator ofBorderlands, Randy Pitchford, about theBorderlandsmovie and how it benefits from having a universe separate from the games.
How the Borderlands Movie Benefits From Having Its Own Cinematic Universe
While some die-hardBorderlandsfans might want the live-action adaptation to be purely representative of what they’ve experienced in the games, that almost defeats the entire purpose of an adaptation — which is to adapt source material to fit a different medium. In that, some degree of evolution needs to take place, andtheBorderlandsmovie’s cinematic universeallows for that evolution to happen. Regarding the film’s separate universe, Pitchford explained,
…we kind of created an alternate universe with the film. We have our storyline, and we have where we’ve been and where we’re headed [in the games], and that’s really important to us. With the film space, instead of just recreating the exact same stories we’ve already done, we can play with it a little bit and try some different things.
TheBorderlandsmovie’s separate universe allows the creators to usefamiliar characters like Lilithand iconic images from the franchise, all while creating new stories for a much broader audience to experience. Despite these new stories, the filmmakers have ensured fans will be served a hefty amount of Easter eggs throughout the film. When asked about how the film will bridge the gap between fan service and originality, Pitchford replied,
We did a lot of fun stuff. You’ll see a lot of little nods and little tips of the hat. But we also know that there are a lot of people who are going to see this that have never played aBorderlandsgame before, and we need to give them an entry point.
So,a brand-new universe for the world ofBorderlandsto live in allows for newcomers to the franchise to have a proper entry point, just as those who are now passionate fans of the franchise were once given an entry point into the bizarre universe of the game series with the release ofBorderlandsin 2009. However, one more purpose behind allowing theBorderlandsmovie to exist in its own universe ultimately sets it up for the future, where the potential for more films can be realized. In the context of futureBorderlandsfilms, Pitchford explained,
We’re not going to run into aLord of the Ringsproblem or aHarry Potterproblem, where once you finish the books, no more movies. So, we just completely avoided that problem, which gives a huge amount of liberty for the film universe to live its own life and the video game universe to live its own life.
It’s clear that the live-actionBorderlandsmovie was not made solely for the fans, and that’s okay. Instead, it was made to draw a new audience into its world, regardless of how unfamiliar they may be with the source material. This is the benefit of theBorderlandsgamesand the film living in separate universes, as they can thrive in their own spaces without depending on one another for life.
Borderlandswill premiere in theaters August 9.
Borderlands
Borderlands is an action RPG first-person shooter created by Gearbox Software and published by 2K Games. The series is commonly called a looter shooter set in a space Western style, where players can select from multiple classes that can level up and acquire new skills. The franchise has quickly become one of the best-selling franchises and produced spin-offs like Tales from the Borderlands as well as a film adaptation being developed by Lionsgate.
