Borderlands Movie: Director Discusses Canon Status

If you have played the Borderlands games before, then you may have already noticed differences between the movie trailer and the games. However, director Eli Roth has clarified that they are distinct entities.

This summer is expected to bring a lineup of blockbuster films after a year filled with high-quality live-action adaptations. What could be more exciting than combining the two?

Based on the popular video game series, Borderlands will arrive in theaters on August 9th, with some noticeable changes from its original form.

At the start of the game, four Vault Hunters – Brick, Lilith, Mordecai, and Roland – embark on a journey to find the mythical Vault on Pandora. The antagonist is Commandant Steele, a member of the Crimson Lance, who is determined to obtain advanced Atlas technology that they believe is concealed within the Vault.

In the latest film installment, the dynamics have shifted. Lilith (Cate Blanchett) makes a solitary comeback to Pandora, bravely confronting Atlas himself in order to rescue his daughter, Tiny Tina (Ariana Greenblatt). The familiar characters of Brick and Mordecai are noticeably absent, with Tina only making a brief appearance in a mini-game within the franchise.

According to Eli Roth, the Borderlands movie is reminiscent of selecting the most exceptional elements from the entire franchise.

‘BORDERLANDS’ director Eli Roth explains why movie was never going to be canon: pic.twitter.com/8QiIUGHEYS

— ScreenTime (@screentime) August 6, 2024

“Roth explained that giving away [my favorite] Easter egg would change its identity as an Easter egg. However, there is a distinction between the games and the movie. This was one of the initial topics I discussed with Randy Pitchford, the creator.”

“My vision was to create an epic and entertaining sci-fi film, incorporating elements from iconic movies such as Star Wars, Mad Max, Fifth Element, Barbarella, Blade Runner, and Escape from New York. I aimed to include all of these elements and avoid simply replicating what was already seen in the game.”

“He was extremely supportive and encouraged us to go for it. While the games have their own established story, the movie has its own unique interpretation. Therefore, we made some alterations.”

Despite some changes, Borderlands still follows the plot of the first game. Lilith joins forces with Claptrap (voiced by Jack Black), Roland (played by Kevin Hart), and Tannis (portrayed by Jamie-Lee Curtis) on a quest to find the missing vault. Other familiar faces, such as Moxie (played by Gina Gershon), make appearances throughout the journey. So, there’s no need to worry.

There is also a hidden Easter egg that we can reveal to you: Penn Jillette makes a cameo appearance in the film as a preacher officiating a wedding. You may recognize Jillette as the voice of Pain in Borderlands 3, but the cameo is so brief that you might miss it if you blink.

Borderlands will be showing in theaters starting August 9. Learn about Borderlands 3 shift codes and all the information we currently have about Borderlands 4, as well as the most recent updates on Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 and new films available for streaming this month.