As you may know, Eli Roth (Hostel, Cabin Fever) is directing a film adaptation of the Borderlands video games for Lionsgate—and Cate Blanchett has officially signed on to star.
Blanchett recently worked with Roth on his dark fantasy film The House with a Clock in Its Walls. In Borderlands, she’ll play Lilith, a siren and legendary thief who possesses magical skills.
“I’m so lucky to have the amazing Cate Blanchett starring in Borderlands,” Roth said in a statement. “We had the most incredible collaboration together on The House with a Clock in Its Walls, and I believe there’s nothing she can’t do. From drama to comedy and now action, Cate makes every scene sing. Working with her is truly a director’s dream come true, and I feel so fortunate that I get to do it again on an even bigger scale. Everyone brings their A-game to work with Cate, and I know together we’re going to create another iconic character in her already storied career.”
Created by Gearbox Software and published by 2K, the Borderlands games are primarily set on the planet of Pandora. Several corporations come to capitalise on the planet’s supposed mineral wealth, but finding nothing of interest, they abandon it—leaving their workforces of former prisoners behind to become raiders and bandits. However, when it is revealed that Pandora has mythical Vaults filled with untold riches, the corporations and military forces return, followed by Vault Hunters who hope to find the treasure for themselves.
Roth’s adaptation will be executive produced by Randy Pitchford, executive producer of the video game franchise and founder of the Gearbox Entertainment Company, as well as Strauss Zelnick, chairman and CEO of Take-Two Interactive. The most recent draft of the screenplay was penned by Craig Mazin.
Words: Samantha McLaren (@themeatispeople)
