Eli Rothis set to direct a feature adaptation of the hit video gameBorderlandsfor Lionsgate, the studio announced on Thursday.
Two-time Emmy winnerCraig Mazin(Chernobyl) wrote the latest draft of the script, and the film will be produced byAvi AradandAri Aradvia their Arad Productions banner, as well asErik Feigand his company Picturestart. Executive producers areRandy Pitchford, the founder of Gearbox Software who serves as the executive producer of the Borderlands video game franchise, andStrauss Zelnick, chairman and CEO of Take-Two Interactive.
The game’s story focuses on a group of four Vault Hunters, who travel to the distant planet Pandora to hunt down an alien vault that is rumored to contain advanced alien technology. They quickly find themselves battling the local wildlife and bandit population as they attempt to stop the head of a private army from reaching the vault first.
Borderlandsis one of the world’s most successful video game franchises, with more than 57 million units sold worldwide, including over 22 million units ofBorderlands 2. More than one million players every month still play that 2012 entry in the series. The most recent installment,Borderlands 3, was released last September, and has already sold nearly 8 million units worldwide. TheBorderlandsseries is published by 2K, a label of Take-Two Interactive Software.
“I’m so excited to dive into the world ofBorderlandsand 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," said Roth. “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.”
“With Eli’s vision and Craig’s screenplay, we believe we have cracked the code on bringing the anarchic world ofBorderlandsto the big screen in a big way that will be a fresh, compelling and cinematic event for moviegoers and fans of the game,” saidNathan Kahane, president of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group.
Lionsgate executiveJames Myerswill oversee the project on behalf of the studio, whileEmmy Yuwill oversee for Arad Productions, andLucy Kitadawill oversee for Picturestart. Production is expected to begin later this year.
Roth is best known for directing theHostelmovies for Lionsgate, as well the studio’sCabin FeverandKnock Knock. He also directedThe Green Infernoand the recent remake ofDeath Wish, though he’s coming off the family filmThe House with a Clock in Its Walls, which grossed more than $130 million worldwide. Roth is currently hosting the second season of his award-winning documentary seriesEli Roth’s History of Horrorfor AMC. He’s represented by WME.
Lionsgate’s announcement to move forward with aBorderlandsmovie comes on the heels of a $57 million opening forSonic the Hedgehog, making it the biggest opening weekend ever for a video game movie. For more on that record,click hereto read our box office report.
