Someone Noticed This! YES!: Borderlands Producer Addresses Viral Crew Member Mistake

Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Borderlands (2024)!

Borderlands producer Randy Pitchford has addressed a viral crew member mistake from the video game movie adaptation, revealing the true purpose behind what happened in the film. The Borderlands movie is getting dismal reviews from critics and audiences alike, with many pointing out flaws like a lack of character development and a story that didn’t feel fully developed. One smaller critique involves a scene where a group of characters open up a vault, with a crew member from the movie seemingly being the one to lift it open.

However, Pitchford, who is also the creator of the Borderlands video game series, revealed the hands actually belong to a character who got cut from the final movie.

In his post, the producer explains how the hands were supposed to belong to Brick, the Berserker class character from the original game. He also expresses happiness that somebody noticed the hands, indicating there were bigger plans for the movie than what was seen onscreen.

Pitchford’s Revelation Makes Sense Given Borderlands’ Production

The Film Was Shot To Be Rated R

Brick originally being set to appear in the video game’s film adaptation makes sense, given the movie was originally shot with a different take on its premise in mind. During an interview with Screen Rant, stunt coordinator Jimmy O’Dee said Borderlands was originally shot to be rated R, before the film was changed to a PG-13 rating in post-production. This means some elements of the movie, like the appearances of other familiar characters, also could have been cut during editing of the final product.

While it would have been interesting to see Brick in the movie, it’s unclear if his appearance could have salvaged a film with such poor reviews from critics and audiences alike. As of writing, the adaptation has a 9% on Rotten Tomatoes, earning only $8.8 million worldwide against a $110-120 million budget. Even though the ending of Borderlands sets the stage for a potential sequel in the future, the criticisms aimed at it coupled with poor theatrical attendance means Brick appearing alone wouldn’t have saved the movie.

Unfortunately, while elements of the games like Brick may have made the film feel more like the video game, a more accurate, R-rated adaptation with better story and character writing is what the movie really needed. While there have been plenty of praised video game adaptations in recent years, like The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Sonic the Hedgehog, it seems Borderlands won’t be joining those ranks. However, even with removed, familiar attributes placed back into the film, it still might not have been enough to save it.

Source: Randy Pitchford/Twitter

Borderlands

3.5

Based on the video game franchise, Borderlands is a sci-fi action-comedy film that follows Cate Blanchett as Lilith, a treasure hunter who returns to her home planet, Pandora, to find a tycoon’s missing daughter. Together with a group of unlikely allies, such as a soldier, a teenaged demolitions expert, a wise-cracking robot, and an eccentric scientist, the group will work together to save the girl – all while learning to deal with each other’s unyielding quirks.

Director

Eli Roth

Release Date

August 9, 2024

Studio(s)

Arad Productions , Picturestart

Distributor(s)

Lionsgate

Writers

Eli Roth , Joe Crombie

Runtime

102 Minutes

Expand