Fans of the Borderlands games may be a bit wary of how Eli Roth's upcoming film adaptation will turn out, and with good reason. Video game movies don't exactly have the most sterling reputation, after all. But if they're willing to believe the words of actor and comedian Kevin Hart, then maybe they can let their nerves calm just a bit.
Hart recently spoke about his role in the curious movie project as Roland, one of the playable protagonists from the first Borderlands game, and it turns out this seems to be more than just a paycheck for him. Not only did he put an incredible amount of effort into proving to director Roth that he was right for the part, but he also praised the film's visual style, claiming that everyone involved is working to make it match the aesthetic of the games as much as they possibly can.
"The fanbase that follows the game is already huge and unreal," Hart said in an interview with Collider, "but I don't think they even have a clear understanding of how close we're coming to the game. It looks like the game. It's unbelievable, truly unbelievable." Based on the chillingly accurate-looking Borderlands cast silhouettes recently teased, it may be something fans are willing to believe. After all, a movie with an all-star cast like this probably isn't the kind to do anything halfway. In that vein, Hart also explained how he trained vigorously with Navy SEALS to get in peak condition for the role, as well as to prove to Roth that he was serious about the project.
Along with Hart, the Borderlands movie will star heavy hitters like Jamie Lee Curtis as Dr. Patricia Tannis, Cate Blanchett as Lilith, and even Jack Black as the motormouth robot buddy Claptrap. Also joining the party are Creed II actor Florian Munteanu as the delightfully unhinged Krieg and Ariana Greenblatt (perhaps best known as Young Gamora in Avengers: Infinity War) as the young explosion enthusiast Tiny Tina.
Apparently following the story of the first game with some notable differences (including new characters like Commander Knoxx, played by Janina Gavankar), the Borderlands film is an ambitious undertaking. Fans who are unsure about the project's quality may be able to at least take that into account as they adjust their excitement levels. After all, even if the movie doesn't exactly remain faithful to its source material, it could still end up being an enjoyable product, especially given all the passion being put into it.
However Borderlands fans feel about the idea, they've still got a long time to think about it before it finally releases. So maybe the best thing to do is simply let the process take its course and maybe check in now and then. Hart's enthusiasm is apparent, even going so far as to appear and get meme'd at Borderlands developer Gearbox's E3 presentation. So maybe optimism can rule the day, just for a little bit.
The Borderlands movie is currently in production with no release date as of yet.
Source: Collider