The Borderlands franchise consists of four games, but each follow a generally similar set up. The games are set in the distant future and typically follow a group of "Vault Hunters" who travel to the planet Pandora (and other planets as well) in search of vaults containing alien artifacts and loot. The hunters often find themselves battling local alien wildlife, bandits, and mega corporations.
It's unclear just how closely Lionsgate's adaptation will stick to the premise of the games. However, Gearbox founder Randy Pitchford, executive producer of the Borderlands game franchise, seems excited.
“I’m incredibly proud we can bring this beloved video game to theaters for our fans around the world. Eli and Craig, already accomplished and remarkable visionaries, will be amazing stewards of Gearbox’s innovative Borderlands characters and stories,” said Pitchford.
I’m very excited to welcome Eli Roth as Director of the Borderlands movie in development with Lionsgate and Arad Productions.
Please welcome @EliRoth to the team and be sure to catch the @GearboxOfficial Main Theater Show at #PAXEast on 2/27 to learn more.
#borderlandsmovie pic.twitter.com/Uaxs7jm10i
— Randy Pitchford (@DuvalMagic) February 20, 2020
“I’m so excited to dive into the world of Borderlands and I could not be doing it with a better script, producing team, and studio. I have a long, successful history with Lionsgate – I feel like we have grown up together and that everything in my directing career has led to a project of this scale and ambition. I look forward to bringing my own energy, ideas, and vision to the wild, fun, and endlessly creative world of the game. Randy Pitchford and everyone at Gearbox have been incredibly supportive of my ideas – it really feels like a perfect storm of creators coming together. We are out to make a new classic, one which the fans of the game will love, but also one which will find new audiences globally.”
“With Eli’s vision and Craig’s screenplay, we believe we have cracked the code on bringing the anarchic world of Borderlands to the big screen in a big way that will be a fresh, compelling and cinematic event for moviegoers and fans of the game,” added Lionsgate Motion Picture Group President Nathan Kahane.
The three main installments in the Borderlands franchise have combined to sell over 75 million copies. Borderlands 3, which was released last September, has sold over 8 million units worldwide.
