Eli Roth To Direct Borderlands Film Adaptation

Deadline reports that Eli Roth is set to direct a feature film adaptation of the video game series Borderlands for Lionsgate.

The game is set in the future, where four ‘Vault Hunters’ go to the planet Pandora to find an alien vault that is rumored to contain advanced technology. They end up battling local wildlife and bandits before trying to stop the head of a private corporation army to get to the vault. The series has sold over 57 million copies worldwide, including over 22 million for Borderlands 2 (which over a million still play). The third was released in September and so far has sold over eight million copies worldwide. It won Best Multiplayer Game at Gamescom.

The film will be produced by Avi and Ari Arad through Arad Productions, along with Erik Feig through Picturestart. The latest script was written by Craig Mazin and the project has been in development since 2015. Borderlands franchise executive producer and Gearbox founder Randy Pitchford will also executive produce the film, while Take-two Interactive’s Strauss Zelnick will also executive produce.

Roth said: “I’m so excited to dive into the world of Borderlands and I could not be doing it with a better script, producing team, and studio. I have a long, successful history with Lionsgate – I feel like we have grown up together and that everything in my directing career has led to a project of this scale and ambition. I look forward to bringing my own energy, ideas, and vision to the wild, fun, and endlessly creative world of the game. Randy Pitchford and everyone at Gearbox have been incredibly supportive of my ideas – it really feels like a perfect storm of creators coming together. We are out to make a new classic, one which the fans of the game will love, but also one which will find new audiences globally.”

Lionsgate Motion Picture Group President Nathan Kahane added: “With Eli’s vision and Craig’s screenplay, we believe we have cracked the code on bringing the anarchic world of Borderlands to the big screen in a big way that will be a fresh, compelling and cinematic event for moviegoers and fans of the game.”

Pitchford said: “I’m incredibly proud we can bring this beloved video game to theaters for our fans around the world. Eli and Craig, already accomplished and remarkable visionaries, will be amazing stewards of Gearbox’s innovative Borderlands characters and stories.“