Borderlands Movie Dream Casting

It was recently announced that Borderlands is making the jump from game to screen under the directorship of Eli Roth and news broke yesterday of a rumour that Cate Blanchett is being lined up to star as Lilith in the adaption. Although a good pick, Cate wouldn’t be my first choice, so I decided to put together my dream cast for the Borderlands Movie.

Now, there are a huge number of awesome characters from the ten year long franchise, so I limited myself to what I believe are the ‘core characters’, i.e. those with good backstory and should definitely feature in any movie adaption.

I also gave myself strict rules around casting LGBTQ actors in LGBTQ roles. Borderlands is a franchise rich in queer diversity and I wanted to make sure this was matched in the casting for the roles.

Let me know if I’ve missed off your favourite character and who you would cast in that role in the comments. Or, if you disagree with my picks, let me know who you would have cast in the comments too!

Lilith – Karen Gillan

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Lilith is the awesome fiery red headed siren who features as a playable character in the original Borderlands, and then is a prominent NPC across all the other instalments. She’s a heroic and selfless leader, but with a cheeky side.

Karen Gillan (Guardians of the Galaxy and Doctor Who) is perfect for this role as she shares the fiery red head personality and also has a commanding presence.

Handsome Jack – Ryan Reynolds

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The iconic villain of the Borderlands franchise, appearing in Borderlands 2, The Pre-Sequel and Tales of the Borderlands, but also playing some part in Borderlands 3. Jack is manipulative, sadistic and selfish, all with a comedic streak.

Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool) would be my pick, sharp at the mouth and I would love to see him play a good villain.

Roland – Chadwick Boseman

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Roland was the playable soldier in Borderlands who went on to become the leader of the Crimson Raiders in Borderlands 2. He also features in The Pre-Sequel. He is a highly trained soldier and inspirational leader.

Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther) has all the experience and traits ideal for Roland.

Sir Alistair Hammerlock – Billy Porter

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Sir Hammerlock appears as an NPC in Borderlands 2 and Borderlands 3. He is a hunter who dresses in a ragged, futuristic version of a Victorian adventurer’s outfit. He is an out and proud gay man, with one of the DLCs for Borderlands 3 focussing on his wedding.

Billy Porter (POSE) would be my selection from this role. He would bring the sophistication and humour needed to a role which will require some motion capture work due to the missing arms and legs!

Tiny Tina – Cara Delevingne

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Tiny Tina is an NPC in Borderlands 2, The Pre-Sequel, and Borderlands 3. She is an unstable thirteen-year-old explosives expert but by the time we see her again in Borderlands 3 she has grown up into a 20 year old member of the Crimson Raiders, but even more obsessed with explosives! In Borderlands 2, Tiny Tina confesses that she likes Maya and asks if she likes her in turn. 

Cara Delevingne (Suicide Squad) would be my pick for Tiny Tina. It’s a tough one as Tina is so iconic, and given the violent and maniacal nature of her character, it’s difficult to find an out LGBTQ teenage actress who could portray her. Focus on her older portrayal though, and Cara could be great casting.

Moxxi – Thandie Newton

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Moxxi has appeared in all four of the Borderlands games to date and is an NPC mission provider. She is the hostess of the Colosseum matches in The Underdome in Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot, and the owner of various bars on Pandora. Moxxi pulls no punches when talking about her sex life and has little modesty! She reveals that she has had numerous sexual partners of both sexes. 

Thandie Newton (Westworld) is perfect for this role. Moxxi is a bar owner who exudes sex and danger, this is almost a mirror image of Thandie’s role as Maeve from Westworld.

Claptrap – David Eddings/Josh Gad

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Claptrap is a CL4P-TP general purpose robot programmed with an overenthusiastic personality, and brags frequently, yet also expresses severe loneliness and cowardice.

This one was hard. Claptrap is the mascot of the whole franchise and his voice is iconic. I would look to bring back the original voice actor David Eddings who left before Borderlands 3 due to a pay dispute. However, this is a celebrity dream casting exercise, so Josh Gad (Frozen) would be my pick as could bring his iconic peppy voice to the role (think Olaf but in a yellow tin can!).

Mordecai – Diego Luna

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Mordecai was a founding member of the Crimson Raiders. He was a playable character in the first Borderlands and then returned as a supporting NPC in Borderlands 2 and Borderlands 3. Mordecai is a skilled marksman who keeps a pet bird called Bloodwing. He is identified as Truxican and there are references to Truxican Wrestling, so it is read that this is likened to Mexican heritage.

Diego Luna (Rogue One) would be my pick for this role. A capable fighter but with that Mexican flare exhibited by Mordecai.

Mr Torgue – Luke Evans

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Mr. Torgue High-Five Flexington is the eponymous NPC of ‘Mr. Torgue’s Campaign of Carnage’, the second DLC for Borderlands 2, and the founder of the weapon manufacturer Torgue. Mr. Torgue features in his eponymous DLC in voice only but is also featured in the Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep DLC in person. It is during this DLC where he is confirmed to be bisexual. 

Luke Evans (Beauty and the Beast) is my pick for this role. Torgue is a tricky one, as I assume that most of his portrayal would be motion capture due the over stylised body muscles. But with that handle bar moustache and loud, aggressive nature, Luke Evans is a great pick and I know he’d have fun with it.

Patricia Tannis – Ruby Rose

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Patricia Tannis is a non-player character who is integral to the main storyline of Borderlands and provides missions in Borderlands 2. Tannis makes a return in Borderlands 3 as an important side-character that assists the new Vault Hunters in their goal to stop the Children of the Vault. Tannis has a tenuous grip on sanity. She often abruptly changes the subject of her conversations and appears to have developed emotional attachments to her ECHO Recorder and to two chairs.

Tannis is known to flirt with the player regardless of their gender, and furthermore is heavily implied to be the mysterious figure who admits their attraction for Maya after killing her would-be assassin in Borderlands 2.

Ruby Rose (Batwoman) would be a perfect pick for this role, both in terms of looks and sass!

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