New images from the Borderlands movie offer the first looks at Claptrap, Dr. Tannis, Tiny Tina, and Roland in Eli Roth's adaptation of the game series. Based on Gearbox Software's video games, the story will center on outlaw Lilith as she builds a team of unexpected allies to find the missing daughter of the universe's most powerful S.O.B. in order to save the world. The ensemble cast for the film includes Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jack Black, Arianna Greenblatt, Florian Munteanu, and Édgar Ramirez.
Attempts at bringing Gearbox Software's franchise to life on the big screen first began in 2015 at Lionsgate but languished in development hell for five years until Roth signed on to direct based on a script from Chernobyl creator Craig Mazin. Development was quickly fast-tracked after this as the ensemble cast was assembled, beginning with its Oscar-winning lead. Now that two months of shooting are under its belt, the first glimpses at the tentpole film have started making their way out.
With production currently underway on the adaptation and on the heels of unveiling the first look at Blanchett's Lilith this week, the film's official Twitter account has revealed a new set of images from the set of Borderlands. The new images offer looks at Hart's mercenary Roland, Greenblatt's pre-teen demolitionist Tiny Tina, Black's wiseass robot Claptrap, Munteanu's musclebound protector of Tina, Krieg, and Curtis' borderline insane scientist Dr. Tannis. The images can be viewed below:
One thing video game adaptations seem to be better understanding is keeping closer to the source material visually and narratively to draw audiences in and the first images from Roth's film are certainly pointing towards the former at the very least. The tone of the Borderlands games is a challenging tightrope to walk, melding the likes of high-concept sci-fi with grindhouse-levels of action and humor. While the first looks thus far at the film haven't offered any semblance of what the plot may entail for the film, it does at the very least seem to show Roth's understanding of the odd and chaotic world of the games and bringing them to life.
Not to mention, with Roth's own past in the grindhouse genre with his Thanksgiving fake trailer in the eponymous film, his position as co-writer and director on Borderlands continues to feel like the right fit. With production still underway on the film, it's unlikely any proper footage will be coming anytime soon to hype audiences up further. But, given the unveiling of images, fans can be sure to look forward to more teases of some capacity in the near future for the project.
Source: Borderlands