Adapting video games into big-budget Hollywood blockbusters is no easy feat- and with a long list of failures in that regard, there is little hope that the upcoming Borderlands movie will be any different. And unfortunately, what little hope there ever was has nearly faded, as the movie’s casting choices are some of the most unusual and off-the-mark we have ever seen. And seeing them in the film’s first official screenshots does little to curb our concerns…
Earlier today, Gearbox and other related outlets took to social media to share the first screenshots of the cast, along with an official poster that shows off the entire group. And let’s just say there is a little bit of secondhand embarrassment going around. That said, Cate Blanchett looks fairly solid as Lilith, but maybe just a tad bit too old for the role.
WE. ARE. READY. Here's your first look at the @BorderlandsFilm. pic.twitter.com/9NIvPhgIbL
— GearboxOfficial (@GearboxOfficial) February 20, 2024
Normally, we wouldn’t want to judge a film before we see it but as a group of individuals who have collectively played every game in the franchise at least twice, it goes without saying that we are big fans of Borderlands. And the casting choices here are without a doubt, some of the worst we have ever seen. Even if the costumes look better than your average convention cosplay, there is no world to exist within the entirety of the multiverse where 4-foot Kevin Hart should be playing the beefy behemoth that is Roland. That is basically like painting Michael Cera green and having him stand in for Ruffalo as the MCU’s Incredible Hulk. The same can be said in similar fashion for most of the rest of the cast who almost all feel too old for their respective roles. Weird choices, man. Seriously.
In fact, the only casting choice here that was pretty solid is Jack Black as the voice of Claptrap, although we probably would not have minded, or possibly even preferred David Eddings. We would have also accepted Jim Foronda.
If you look at the film’s Wikipedia or IMDB, the full cast is laughable and a perfect example of those in charge having next to no idea what this franchise is about or who these characters are. Of course, if that wasn’t enough to be cause for concern, the movie is produced by Avi Arad. So, there’s about a 98% chance it will have a 25% or lower on Rotten Tomatoes.
Directed by Eli Roth from a story and screenplay inexplicably also by Roth, Borderlands stars Cate Blanchett as Lilith, Kevin Hart as Roland, Jack Black as Claptrap, Jamie Lee Curtis as Dr. Patricia Tannis, Ariana Greenblatt as Tiny Tina, and Florian Munteanu as Krieg. The film also features Édgar Ramírez as Atlas, Bobby Lee as Larry, Olivier Richters as Krom, Janina Gavankar as Commander Knoxx, Gina Gershon as Mad Moxxi, Cheyenne Jackson as Jakobs, Charles Babalola as Hammerlock, Benjamin Byron Davis as Marcus, Steven Boyer as Scooter, and Ryann Redmond as Ellie.
You would have had better casting if you pulled names out of a hat. Man, this movie is going to suck.
