BORDERLANDS Movie Officially in Development at Lionsgate

This month we've posted Movie Dream Team articles for the popular video game franchise Borderlands and Borderlands 2. Lionsgate has now announced that they are developing a big-screen adaptation of the Borderlands video game, and it will be produced by Avi Arad (Spider-Man, Iron Man) and his son Ari Arad. For those of you not familiar with the game, here's the official synopsis:

“In a distant future, the planets at the outer edges of the galaxy have become a beacon to fortune seekers and those yearning for a better life off world. But there are no guarantees in deep space. Pandora, one of these distant planets, was reported to be rich in untapped mineral wealth, and so drew many hoping to get rich quick, but in the end little was found beyond the scattered ruins of a past alien civilization. With nothing to gain, any who could soon abandoned Pandora, leaving those who remained to deal with the lawlessness of a world gone bust, and the mystery of the long-dead alien civilization. But as chaotic as these times were, there were worse days yet to come. After several years the planet’s huge orbit slowly brought it near to its sun and once unknown and horrifying creatures sprang from their long hibernation to terrify the stranded colonists. The only hope of the colonists seems to be a vault discovered in the side of a mountainside, rumored to contain alien technology and secrets about Pandora.”

Borderlands has the potential to be an incredibly mind-blowing film-going experience. I guess your excitement for this news all depends on whether or not you have enjoyed the films that Arad has produced over the years. He has helped develop both great films, and some really, really bad ones. Hopefully, they will be able to bring in the right team of talent to bring the movie to life.

Lionsgate seems to be happy to be in business with the Arads, though. Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Co-Chairs Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger. released the following statement:

“We believe that we’ve brought together the right partners, the ideal creative team and the perfect property to launch a new motion picture tent-pole for a global audience. Part of our strategy in entering the game space under Peter Levin has been to source new brands with built-in audiences that will translate into great films and television shows. The ‘Borderlands’ games don’t pull any punches, and we’ll make the movie with the same in-your-face attitude that has made the series a blockbuster mega-franchise.”

Take-Two Interactive Chairman and CEO Strauss Zelnick added:

“Lionsgate has emerged as a major creative force in the global marketplace with an incredible portfolio of brands; our partners at Gearbox have pioneered and cultivated an iconic property; and Avi and Ari Arad are two of the most successful producers of action franchises. This alliance is ideally positioned to create a bold, provocative, no-holds-barred motion picture phenomenon that will delight Borderlands' current legions of fans and captivate moviegoers around the world.”

Avi and Ari Arad offered their own statement, saying:

“We’re thrilled to extend our partnership with Jon Feltheimer, Michael Burns, Rob, Patrick and the amazing team at Lionsgate and join forces with Take-Two and Gearbox on this incredible property. Borderlands has a unique story-driven narrative energy and rich multidimensional characters that position it to become a singular motion picture event.”

Then Randy Pitchford, President and Co-Founder of Gearbox Software, the developer of the game, said:

“Creating, developing and continuing to build the Borderlands franchise at Gearbox Software has been an incredible ride where the most powerful fuel to our engine has been the astonishing outpouring of love and devotion from the fans. It is the passion of the fans driving the growing success of Borderlands that brought what I believe to be the best team of film producers, marketing and distribution experts in the world together to deliver the exciting story and unique characters of Borderlands to the big screen.”

It will be interesting to see how this project comes together, and if any of our movie dream team choices make it into the film.

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