Eli Roth, who is prominently known for directing horror movies, has been tapped to helm Lionsgate's film adaptation of the beloved sci-fi shooter video game
Borderlands. Production on the movie is expected to begin later this year with the latest draft of the screenplay written by two-time Emmy-winning screenwriter Craig Mazin (Chernobyl).
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.
Roth, who has directed
Cabin Fever and
Hostel among other horror films, offered a similar sentiment in his own statement:
“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.