Summary
TheBorderlandsmovie was already one of the most controversial video game adaptations long before its most recent trailer hit the internet. A history almost a decade in the making, talks surrounding aBorderlandsmovie were first had in May 2015, whereSawstar Leigh Whannell expressed his interest in bringing the beloved video game franchise to the big screen. While Lionsgate moved forward with the idea, Whannell was seemingly cut from the production, and that was just the first sign of controversy from theBorderlandsmovie.
Over the last nine years,Borderlandshas seen several different directors attach their names only to drop out months later and has seen multiple, major documented script rewrites, with one of the latest apparently rewriting Craig Mazin’s 2020 script. Then there’s the strange 2021 promotional video that featuredGearbox’s controversial Randy Pitchfordin a prominent role. And now, almost a decade after beginning production, theBorderlandsmovie has finally released its first trailer, and reactions have been pretty mixed. One of the biggest concerns is over the movie’s cast, and in particular, the lack of iconic characters like Brick and Mordecai.
Where Are Mordecai and Brick in the Borderlands Movie?
Mordecai and Brick Are Essential Parts of the Borderlands Universe
Two of the most beloved characters inthe entireBorderlandsfranchise, Brick and Mordecai play pretty major roles across the entire series. Debuting back in 2009, Brick and Mordecai make up half of the firstBorderlands' original playable line-up, with Lilith and Roland taking the remaining two slots. Founding members of the Crimson Raiders, long-timeBorderlandsfans have grown quite a strong connection to these two characters.
On top of their debut appearances, Mordecai and Brick also appear inBorderlands' two mainline sequels. InBorderlands 2, Mordecai assists the player in three very memorable main story missions, and Brick—as the Slab King—is the central figure of his very own questline. Both characters also pop up inBorderlands 3during the mission Hammerlocked. Though Mordecai and Brick aren’t playable in theBorderlandssequels, they’re arguably given much more character here than in their own game, being given unique storylines and character arcs.
The Borderlands Movie Replacing Mordecai and Brick Is a Bit of a Double-Edged Sword
But despite being two of theoriginalBorderlands' four playable characters, and despite being two of the most beloved characters in the franchise, Brick and Mordecai are not currently set to appear in theBorderlandsmovie. Instead, theBorderlandsmovie sees Lilith and Roland be joined by Tiny Tina, Krieg, and Dr. Tannis, an approach that already feels like a double-edged sword.
On one hand, theBorderlandsmovie doesn’t need to be a direct adaptation of the source material, and having a mixed cast of characters from across the series does add a sense of novelty to the movie. While these characters have interacted a few times across theBorderlandsfranchise, any shared screen time is minimal.
It could be fun to seeLilith and Rolandinteract more with Tiny Tina and Krieg, a team-up that hasn’t really been seen before in the series.
But on the other hand, not putting Brick and Mordecai intheBorderlandsmovieis a surefire way to put off a good portion of the fanbase. Brick and Mordecai play big roles not just in the firstBorderlandsgame, but the entire series, and though there’s room for them to appear in future movies (depending on the first’s critical and commercial reception) not having them here for the get-go feels like a strange missed opportunity.
Borderlands
Borderlands is an action RPG first-person shooter created by Gearbox Software and published by 2K Games. The series is commonly called a looter shooter set in a space Western style, where players can select from multiple classes that can level up and acquire new skills. The franchise has quickly become one of the best-selling franchises and produced spin-offs like Tales from the Borderlands as well as a film adaptation being developed by Lionsgate.
