Evidently, BORDERLANDS is one of the world’s most successful video games, with more than 57 million units sold-in worldwide, including over 22 million units of BORDERLANDS 2. I can't back these claims up. I don't play video games. But that said, today we hear that none other than CABIN FEVER and HOSTEL helmer Eli Roth will direct Lionsgate's upcoming adaptation written by Craig Mazin (CHERNOBYL).
Roth says:
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.
President of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, Nathan Kahane said:
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.
The film/video game's executive producer and Gearbox Software founder, Randy Pitchford added:
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.
Avi Arad, Ari Arad, and Erik Feig produce. Randy Pitchford and Strauss Zelnick are the film’s executive producers. James Myers is overseeing the project on behalf of Lionsgate. Emmy Yu is overseeing the film for Arad Productions. Lucy Kitada will oversee the project for PICTURESTART.