Summary
The road to releasing aBorderlandsmovie has been an incredibly long and arduous one, beginning all the way back in 2015 whenSawco-creator Leigh Whannell was in talks to bring the beloved video game franchise to the big screen. The last nine years haven’t gone too smoothly for theBorderlandsmovie, however, with it changing hands multiple times, receiving several major delays, and its currentco-writer Craig Mazin allegedly removing his namefrom the project back in June 2023.
But despite all of its setbacks, aBorderlandslive-action movie is still set to release in August, though things aren’t looking too good. WhileBorderlands' vibrant universe, eccentric characters, absurdist humor, and distinct visual style all lend themselves well to a silver-screen adaptation, fans aren’t too sure this upcoming movie is going to really embrace any of that. And though it might not seem like a big deal right now,Borderlands' success could impact the industry more than fans realize.
The Borderlands Movie’s Reception Could Have Some Big Consequences
The Borderlands Movie Could Seriously Damage the Brand
Since its debut back in 2009, theBorderlandsfranchise has rarely missed, and when it has, it’s done little to affect the series' overall standing in the public eye. Whileentries likeBorderlands: The Pre-SequelandTales from the Borderlandscan be middle-of-the-road experiences, their shortcomings aren’t taking away from the brilliance ofBorderlands 2, and as things currently stand, theBorderlandsbrand as a whole is still very strong, with fans hoping for a new mainline entry sometime soon.
If theupcomingBorderlandslive-action movieis critically panned, it could be the first proper time in franchise history where public perception of the series drastically changes, and changes for the worse. Using some beloved pre-established characters and plot lines, theBorderlandsmovie has the potential to upset a lot of fans if the source material isn’t treated with enough respect, and based on the movie’s odd casting choices and disappointing trailers, that unfortunately looks like it could be the case. While a fourth mainline installment in theBorderlandsfranchise could fix any messes the movie makes, the series' brand could still suffer a lot of damage in the interim.
Borderlands Is Threatening to Ruin a Great Video Game Adaptation Streak
But the critical reception to the upcomingBorderlandslive-action movie might not only affect the public perception of theBorderlandsfranchise, but potentially the perception of all video game adaptations. The history of video game adaptations is a shaky one, filled with infamous failures, and surprising successes, but the last few years have heralded something of a golden age for them, withanimated adaptations likeCastlevania,Arcane, andCyberpunk Edgerunnersall being genuinely excellent shows.
Recently, live-action video game adaptations have joined the same heights, withHBO’sThe Last of Usand Amazon’sFalloutshows not only adapting their source material well, but elevating it in some places. But while these two shows have broken the curse of live-action video game adaptations, the public perception surrounding them is still a tad tumultuous. One wrong move and everything could tumble back down to square one, andBorderlandscould end up being that one wrong move. The quality of theBorderlandsmovie obviously won’t take away from the quality of projects likeThe Last of UsorFallout, but it certainly won’t help the public’s perception of live-action video game adaptations.
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.
