Despite the lack of considerable success in adapting massively successful video-games on the big screen, the universally acclaimed role-playing first-person shooter Borderlands is ultimately getting a movie adaptation. Created by Gearbox Software and published by 2K Games, Borderlands has received critical acclaim and become one of the highest-selling video game franchises of all time, with a staggering US$1 billion in revenues when the third game in the series was released.
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Having received universal praise for its co-op gameplay, irreverent humor, and loot-based theme, Borderlands also has the Guinness record for having a whopping 17 million different possible guns that can be used by the player. The game’s massive popularity has made Lionsgate adapt it for the big screen.
NEWS
According to an exclusive report by The Illuminerdi, stand-up comedian/actor Kevin Hart is in talks to play the role of fan-favorite Roland in the upcoming Borderlands movie. Earlier, Cate Blanchett was confirmed to be cast as Lilith for the movie.
As arguably one of the best stand-up comedians in recent years, Kevin Hart has also particularly shone in his acting performances. Known for his amicable partnership with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Hart has received widespread acclaim for his role in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, and its sequel, Jumanji: The Next Level. His other works include About Last Night, Get Hard, The Secret Life of Pets, Night School, Central Intelligence, and The Secret Life of Pets.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
Having received widespread acclaim for his stand-up comedy and acting chops, Kevin Hart is currently one of the most sought after actors in the industry. If the reports of Hart in negotiations to play Roland are true, then Lionsgate is definitely looking at a big-budget for Borderlands adaptation. As a former member of the Crimson Lance and a veteran fighter, Roland is a fan-favorite character in the Borderlands franchise. With Kevin Hart at the helm, his witty humor will probably be in full display, honoring one of the core qualities of the massively popular video-game franchise.
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Eli Roth, best known for his works in the horror genre, is currently attached to the project as the director. The movie is being produced by Avi and Ari Arad, who worked on the Academy Award-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse movie. Craig Mazin, currently attached with HBO’s adaptation of The Last of Us, will be penning the script for the upcoming Borderlands movie.
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The film is expected to be a loose adaptation of the games, which constitute a role-playing first-person shooter franchise set on the planet Pandora. After being ravaged and abandoned by larger corporations in search of treasure, the left-behind workforce takes over the planet and turn it into a lawless land. However, following the discovery of mystical Vaults, the corporations return to the planet to plunder its wealth.
No release date has yet been revealed for Borderlands.
