Eli Roth Compares ‘Borderlands' to ‘Escape From New York' and ‘The Fifth Element'

Eli Roth is currently in the middle of doing press for “Borderlands.” Will someone, anyone, please ask him why he stepped down from the film and was replaced by Tim Miller? It’s a valid question. The official excuse given was that Roth had to go direct another movie (“Thanksgiving”).

Regardless, a new trailer has been released for “Borderlands.”

In a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, Roth says the film is trying to channel the “insanity” of John Carpenter’s “Escape from New York” and Luc Besson’s 1997 film “The Fifth Element” — both cult classics. I have to say, despite all of the toxic word of mouth with this one, I’m still looking forward to checking it out.

Daniel Richtman recently reported that he’s been hearing some very bad things about the film. I’m seeing it next Tuesday, the embargo doesn’t lift until Thursday August 8 (which is the same day previews begin for the film). So, obviously Lionsgate is trying to prevent reviews from popping up until the very last minute.

I’ve already delved into the tumultuous journey of Roth’s “Borderlands,” which might have cost anywhere between $100M-$110M to produce — we are not really sure given the extensive reshoots this one has had. Richtman claimed Roth was fired from the film and replaced by Miller. Not really sure about that. Last year, a spokesperson for Roth told me that was “unequivocally false.”

It was already a misbegotten idea to turn the video game into a feature film, and it sounds like not even Cate Blanchett’s participation — who hopped onboard due to “COVID madness” — will make much of a difference.

“Borderlands” follows Lilith (Cate Blanchett) as she reluctantly returns to Pandora in search of the daughter of a powerful man named Atlas (Edgar Ramirez), teaming up with a ragtag gang of misfits along the way. The film, starring Blanchett, Jack Black, Kevin Hart and Jamie Lee Curtis, is set to hit theaters on August 9.