How a video game adaptation starring 2 Oscar winners became the year’s biggest flop

Video game and toy adaptations often take many years to develop because they must please the director, film studios, and the original creator.

“Borderlands” has been in development since 2015 but there wasn’t meaningful progress until 2020, when Eli Roth signed on as director.

In July, EW reported that comedian Aaron Berg initially wrote an R-rated script for the movie (the current film is PG-13). But the screenplay was later re-written by Craig Mazin, the co-creator of the Emmy-winning TV series “The Last of Us,” Deadline reported in 2020.

Then, after production wrapped in June 2021, director Tim Miller reshot scenes so Roth could focus on his 2023 horror film “Thanksgiving,” Deadline reported in January 2023. The publication listed Roth as a co-writer in the article, implying he had rewritten part of the script.

“Bullet Train” writer Zak Olkewicz, was later brought in to rewrite the script for the reshoots, The Hollywood Reporter reported that month.

Then things started to get weird.

In July 2023, Mazin’s name was removed as the movie’s co-writer on the Writer’s Guild of America website and replaced by a person called Joe Crombie.

Crombie’s identity is unknown and this is his only credit, which sparked rumors it was a pseudonym for Mazin. Mazin denied the claims in an interview with Variety and said he cannot claim “authorship” for the film.

The WGA website now lists Crombie and Roth as the “Borderlands” screenplay writers. However, the website stated that Berg, Olkewicz, “Euphoria” creator Sam Levinson, and four others, contributed additional material.

That means they didn’t write enough to get writing credits but still contributed to the script. Mazin’s name is not linked at all to the screenplay.

Further changes came after a few actors were cast in 2021 but were cut out of the final movie, such as Cheyenne Jackson and Charles Babalola as notable game characters Wainwright Jakobs and Sir Hammerlock.

Critics have complained that the characters are “one-dimensional” and the story feels rushed and confusing, which could be the result of all the script changes and reshoots.

Fans and critics have higher expectations for video game adaptations

Video game adaptations have historically been mediocre at best.

But in recent years, a number of adaptations have been well-received and even nominated for awards, such as”The Last of Us,” “Fallout,” “Sonic the Hedgehog,” and “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.”

Many fans and critics have also compared “Borderlands” to beloved films like “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Mad Max,” and “The Suicide Squad.”

Nowadays, critics and fans just expect better from gaming adaptations.