A film adaptation of the video game series was announced in August 2015, with Lionsgate developing the project with Ari and
Avi Arad of Arad Productions producing, and
Leigh Whannell was in talks to direct it. By February 2020, Roth was attached to direct the film from a screenplay written by
Craig Mazin, with Feig joining as producer through his production company Picturestart. Casting occurred from May 2020 to March 2021, with Blanchett joining the cast, while Hart, Black, and Curtis were added in the following year.
Principal photography began in April 2021 in
Budapest, Hungary, during the
COVID-19 pandemic, and wrapped in June that same year. However, some reshoots were made in two weeks, without Roth's involvement due to his commitments to Thanksgiving, and were directed by
Tim Miller.[2]
Borderlands is set to be released in the United States on August 9, 2024, by
Lionsgate.
Premise
Lilith, an infamous outlaw with a mysterious past, reluctantly returns to her home planet of Pandora to find the missing daughter of the universe's most powerful S.O.B., Atlas. Lilith forms an alliance with an unexpected team –
Roland, a former elite mercenary, now desperate for redemption;
Tiny Tina, a feral pre-teen demolitionist;
Krieg, Tina's musclebound, rhetorically challenged protector;
Tannis, the scientist with a tenuous grip on sanity; and
Claptrap, a persistently wiseass robot. These unlikely heroes must battle alien monsters and dangerous bandits to find and protect the missing girl, who may hold the key to unimaginable power. The fate of the universe could be in their hands but they'll be fighting for something more: each other.[3]
Additionally,
Penn Jillette has a cameo in the film as a preacher overseeing a wedding, after voicing Pain in the video game Borderlands 3 (2019).
Production
Development
In May 2015,
Leigh Whannell was in talks with
Lionsgate Films to write and direct an adaptation of the video game series Borderlands.[4] The film was officially announced in August 2015, with Ari and
Avi Arad of Arad Productions producing; however Whannell's involvement was left omitted.[5] Aaron Berg was tapped to pen an R-rated take on the material in April 2016.[6] By June 2018, Oren Uziel assumed scripting duties from Berg.[7][8]
Filming officially began on April 1, 2021 in
Budapest,
Hungary, during the
COVID-19 pandemic.[25] The film wrapped on June 22.[26][27][28] On June 4, 2021, first look images of the cast were released, with black and white images obscuring all but the cast's silhouettes.[29]
Reshoots
In January 2023, it was announced the film would be going through two weeks of
reshoots directed by
Tim Miller, due to Roth's commitments to Thanksgiving (2023). While Roth would not be involved with the reshoots, he remained attached to the film and gave Miller his blessing.[30] Zak Olkewicz scribed new pages for Miller.[31] In June 2023, Mazin removed his name from the project, replaced by Joe Crombie; Mazin denied reports that Crombie was his
pseudonym.[32] Additional literary material credits were given to Berg, Uziel, Taylor, Rettenmaier, Olkewicz, Chris Bremner, and
Sam Levinson.[33]
Music
In June 2021,
Nathan Barr was announced to score the film, having collaborated with Roth in some of his previous works.[34] However, in October 2023, it was announced that
Steve Jablonsky would be taking over scoring duties for Barr.[35]
Release
Borderlands is set to be released theatrically in the United States by Lionsgate Films on August 9, 2024.[36][37][38]
Marketing
During Lionsgate's panel at the 2022
CinemaCon, approximately one-minute of exclusive footage was shown.[39]