The trailer for the Borderlands movie was released today (watch it below), introducing viewers to a sci-fi action-comedy with space-western elements, a motley band of misfit antihero protagonists, wacky alien creatures, seedy space locations, and set to a catchy 1970s pop song (Electric Light Orchestra’s “Do Ya”). If the Borderlands trailer gave you Guardians of the Galaxy vibes, you’re not alone.
We interviewed Gearbox’s Randy Pitchford, an Executive Producer on the Eli Roth-directed film, last week for our exclusive trailer breakdown and asked whether the success of Marvel’s Guardians franchise helped get the Borderlands movie made.
“I don't think it hurt. It's funny, we started this process before Guardians, the films were made. And I actually did a thing once with James Gunn who wrote and directed the Guardians movies,” Pitchford recalled, possibly referring to their panel appearance together at E3 2017. “And I don't want to take him out of turn, but he knew about Borderlands. So I think there's actually probably mutual influence and I think that's awesome.”
Pitchford continued, “I think the fact that that worked because I freaking love that movie and I love his tone and I love his vibe, and to whatever extent Borderlands made that easier to do there and kind of helped that, I think the fact that Guardians was successful made this even easier to get behind and do. But I will say I don't think James' goal was to make Guardians like Borderlands. And I don't think Borderlands' goal is to make Borderlands like Guardians.”
“But we have to accept that those are in the world, so there's great things to learn. And how do we want to be different and what can we be confident in because we were the same?,” Pitchford said. “There's definitely some similar tone vibes. Guardians definitely benefited from Borderlands and Borderlands definitely benefits from Guardians. So it's just all part of the soup and I think it's awesome.”
For more Borderlands coverage, watch our exclusive trailer breakdown with Randy Pitchford, read our interview with Pitchford and Borderlands director Eli Roth, and then check out our suspicion that Borderlands 4 is happening.
