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Randy Pitchford hopes the Borderlands shares the games with everyone

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Randy Pitchford hopes the Borderlands shares the games with everyone

As a passionate gamer myself, I fully understand the predicament you’re describing. Having people in our lives who don’t share our love for video games can create a barrier of experience and comfortability indeed. But fear not, my friend! The magic of movies can bridge that gap, inviting them into our cherished worlds without the need for controllers or level-ups.

People who are passionate about video games often find it challenging to convey their love for the game to individuals who don’t play them at all. Randy Pitchford, being the CEO of Gearbox Software (the company behind the Borderlands franchise), is no exception – he too has encountered this challenge.

As a longtime fan of the Borderlands video game series, I’ve always been captivated by its vibrant world and intriguing characters. So, when I learned that Gearbox Software co-founder Randy Pitchford was not only involved in making movies but also served as producer on Lionsgate’s upcoming Borderlands film adaptation, directed by Eli Roth, I couldn’t contain my excitement!

In an interview with TopMob, Pitchford shared that his mother is fond of him and takes pride in him, but she doesn’t join him in playing video games. During their conversation, TopMob delved into the lengthy process of creating a movie based on a video game, and surprisingly, it all began at Telltale Games with the acclaimed series Tales from the Borderlands.

Have you noticed a shift in the perception of video game adaptations, particularly those recently released in movies and TV series? Since you’ve worked on a video game adaptation yourself, do you find yourself seeing these adaptations differently now?

As a passionate creator and a part of the team behind this captivating universe we’ve built, I can’t help but feel transformed over the years. Yet, there’s something magical about the characters we’ve brought to life, and it’s clear that our fans connect deeply with them. While I must remain cautious not to let my personal preferences sway things too much, I can’t deny that I pour a piece of myself into our creations.

One of our initial collaborative projects involved a partnership with Telltale Games, which led to the creation of the game series known as “Tales from the Borderlands”. Unlike the traditional gameplay of the core Borderlands games, this series was primarily focused on storytelling, offering an interactive experience. It turned out to be extremely popular, becoming Telltale’s highest-rated game series, surpassing their work on titles like “The Walking Dead” and “Batman”. This success served as further proof that the Borderlands universe, characters, and narratives had a significant impact and relevance.

Randy Pitchford hopes the Borderlands shares the games with everyone

In 2011, I found myself face-to-face with Ari Arad from Arad Productions regarding a film project that was intriguing. At the time, one might wonder about the potential success of a video game adaptation into a movie. Nonetheless, we shared a belief that there was something unique here worth exploring. With a dash of audacity and a pinch of uncertainty, we decided to take a chance, and Lionsgate joined us on this journey. An exceptional ensemble cast emerged, featuring none other than Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Eli [Roth] at the helm as director. It’s hard to believe we managed to gather such talent, but here we are. The project is complete, and it’s poised for release, ready to captivate audiences worldwide.

It’s worth mentioning that even though I haven’t played the main Borderlands series, I’m quite fond of Tales from the Borderlands. Did Tales give you the impression that it could be a movie, or did it demonstrate more specifically which aspects of Borderlands would work better in a narrative format? If so, what were those elements?

In simpler terms, Borderlands as a video game series is like a meeting point or overlap where different elements come together, creating an uncomfortable yet intriguing mix. For instance, it’s a blend of role-playing games and shooter genres, and science fiction and Western themes, with a dash of drama and comedy. Similarly, the characters in Borderlands live in a space that reflects their struggle between who they are and who they aspire to be, which is something many people can relate to.

The Borderlands series daringly explores themes and resides in the liminal space between reality and fantasy, which is what makes its narrative so compelling. In the realm of video games, particularly shooter and loot games, we must prioritize game design elements as they are the main selling points. However, with Tales from the Borderlands, we were given the opportunity to break free from these fundamental mechanics and concentrate on the storytelling. This shift proved incredibly rewarding for those who appreciated it. Nonetheless, not everyone engages with such video games or any video game at all. A movie adaptation allows us to reach a broader audience, as this distinctive narrative style isn’t being explored in the same way elsewhere. To me, that was what made the film’s existence valuable.

Randy Pitchford hopes the Borderlands shares the games with everyone

As a seasoned entertainer with a creative soul, I find myself constantly straddling the line between art and entertainment. There was a time, not so long ago, when financial security was no longer a concern for me, allowing me to explore new avenues of self-expression [laughs heartily]. The experiment I embarked on was an attempt to delve deeper into themes and ideas that resonated with me, and the medium I chose for this exploration was film.

As a gamer myself, I can definitely relate to this situation. Growing up, my mom always supported me and showed her love and pride in my achievements, but she never really understood my passion for video games. She just didn’t get why I would spend hours upon hours immersed in these digital worlds. But that’s okay, because we both have our own interests and hobbies that define our individuality. In the end, it’s these differences that make us unique, and I wouldn’t trade my love for gaming with anything else.

There’s a there’s a barrier of experience there and of comfortability, totally.

I think I think all gamers have people in their lives like that. The movie helps.

Were there specific individuals you had in mind for these roles from the beginning, or did you decide on Cate Blanchett, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Kevin Hart at a later stage?

In June 2012, during the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles, I was showcasing Borderlands 2. Along comes Jack Black, a fan of the game, and we struck up a conversation. I jokingly suggested that if we ever made a movie, he should play Claptrap. To my surprise, he enthusiastically agreed! This idea had been in the works for some time.

My wife initially penned the first version of Dr. Tannis, and she felt no one else but Jamie could bring her to life, which was truly amazing. Similarly, there’s a character named Mad Moxxi, played by Gina Gershon. I had always envisioned a Mae West-like essence for this character, influencing both her character and persona. In fact, I recall discussing it with my wife before we even considered her, I believe Gina Gershon would be the perfect fit for this role. Fortunately, Eli agreed with me. Eli and Ari were actively involved in the casting process, and when they saw Gina’s name on the list, everyone responded, Let’s go for it!

Randy Pitchford hopes the Borderlands shares the games with everyone

Eli encountered Cate, a colleague from past projects. I must admit, I wouldn’t have expected her presence in my small video game film production. frankly, Cate is almost divine. How could such a renowned actress be visiting my modest project? It was all thanks to Eli. There was a particular scene during the shoot where Cate and Jamie portrayed Lilith and Tannis, diligently studying the map to the Vault. They were immersed in the intricate lore I had created, demonstrating a profound understanding of it, leaving me in awe. It felt as if these two exceptional actors were embodying characters we had only visualized digitally and virtually, and they breathed life into them in reality. The talent involved was simply astounding, leaving me overwhelmed with admiration.

In simpler terms,

Randy Pitchford hopes the Borderlands shares the games with everyone

In creating this adaptation, were there any parts of the original game that you found necessary to abandon since they wouldn’t translate well?

Absolutely! The gameplay time for Borderlands 3 ranges from 40 to 50 hours, while Borderlands 2 offers the same duration of entertainment. Compared to these expansive games, a movie runs for less than two hours. We’ve crafted countless characters, making it impossible to include them all. Therefore, we had to make choices, which was challenging because I have deep affection for every aspect. However, if we could create something exceptional this time around, there might be possibilities to expand into a new cinematic universe and explore more stories in future projects.

The key point here seems to be about creating a cinematic universe based on video game characters and themes, but independent from the games themselves.

Of course! If you continue making films, would you consider revisiting previous characters or introducing new ones instead? Or perhaps it’s too early to predict that far ahead?

I prefer not to limit my options prematurely. There are certain actions I’m considering. However, until we delve into the project and start making progress, I believe it’s wiser not to establish any rigid plans just yet.

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2024-08-06 18:20

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