Director Eli Roth responded to comparisons between his upcoming Borderlands adaptation and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. In an interview with Total Film, Roth acknowledged similarities between the projects, explaining, “I was very conscious of not remaking Guardians. [Audiences will] see the movie and recognize its unique approach.”
Borderlands, adapted from the popular video game series by Gearbox Software, features an ensemble cast including Kevin Hart, Cate Blanchett, and Jack Black, set in a post-apocalyptic world. The storyline follows Lilith (Blanchett) as she returns to Pandora with the help of a ragtag bunch of misfits to locate the daughter of the universe’s most powerful man. On paper, it shares similarities with Marvel’s space opera Guardians of the Galaxy, starring Chris Pratt, and it’s a comparison that was further prompted by early trailers and first looks like the one you can watch below.
While Roth acknowledges the inevitability of comparisons in the family-friendly sci-fi genre, the clip above suggests Borderlands leans towards a tone similar to Suicide Squad, prioritizing comedy over action. Known for his work in films like Hostel and The House with a Clock in Its Walls, Roth told Total Film his aim is to transcend traditional expectations of video game adaptations. “I don’t want audiences to think, ‘That was a good video-game movie,'” Roth said. “I want them to say, ‘That was a really fun science-fiction film, period.'”
Borderlands is scheduled for theatrical release on August 9.
