Summary

• Missing Borderlands characters Brick and Mordecai could appear in a sequel, which would change the dynamics of the main squad.
• The Borderlands movie focuses on Lillith and Roland, so bringing Brick and Mordecai into the fold in the sequel would make sense.
• The Borderlands movie's cinematic universe plan may risk certain characters appearing at all.

Ahead of Borderlands' premiere, a brand-new update about the film's potential sequel is great news for two huge video game characters who are missing from director and co-writer Eli Roth's adaptation. Best known for his splatter horror films, Roth takes a stab at Gearbox's beloved game, transforming it into a sci-fi action comedy romp with an impressive ensemble cast that includes big-name actors like Cate Blanchett and Jack Black. Released in 2009, the first Borderlands game follows a group of Vault Hunters who travel to the planet Pandora in search of alien tech and priceless riches.

The Borderlands movie takes a different narrative approach, all while playing with the franchise's characters and setting. In the first game, the Vault Hunters include Brick, Lilith, Mordecai, and Roland, but the film centers primarily on Lillith (Blanchett), an outlaw who returns to Pandora to form an alliance with a group of misfits bent on finding a missing girl. While Roland (Kevin Hart) also plays a major role, Brick and Mordecai are missing from the Borderlands movie. With Borderlands 2's promidate, it seems like the team behind the adaptation are banking on a sequel to introduce certain elements.

Borderlands 2 Happening Could Mean Introducing Brick & Mordecai

Brick & Mordecai Were Two Of Borderlands' Original Vault Hunters

There's no denying that Borderlands missing characters make a sequel more likely, especially since those characters in question are Brick and Mordecai. Despite its use of iconic characters like Claptrap (Jack Black) and Tiny Tina (Ariana Greenblatt), the Borderlands movie is carving out its own original story. Given how many characters exist in the Borderlands universe, it would be near-impossible to do all of them justice in a single film, especially since Roth's feature is tasked with introducing audiences to the property at large. In a way, notable character absences inherently position the franchise to spawn cinematic sequels.

...big personalities like Brick and Mordecai could be overshadowed in Borderlands 2 by pre-established characters.

Speaking with IGN, Gearbox founder Randy Pitchford said the Borderlands movie is meant to be the first entry in a planned Cinematic Universe. Given the sheer number of beloved characters in the Borderlands video games, there's enough material to warrant sequels. However, Borderlands' cinematic universe plan coming ahead of the first film's release poses major risks. Even on a character level, big personalities like Brick and Mordecai could be overshadowed in Borderlands 2 by pre-established characters. Since a sequel depends on Borderlands' success, fans might be let down if Brick and Mordecai never make it to the silver screen.

How Borderlands Can Set Up Brick & Mordecai's Sequel Roles

Lillith & Roland Could Reunite With Their Old Friends In Borderlands 2

Despite the gun-toting Vault Hunters' surprising absence from the movie, Borderlands could easily set up Brick and Mordecai's introduction in a second movie. Although the duo aren't as crucial to Borderlands' main story as Roland or Lillith, Brick, a shotgun-wielding tank, and Mordecai, the resident sniper, are still important side characters. Since it would be exciting to see Borderlands' core four characters on screen together in a movie sequel, it's possible a future film could require Lillith and Roland to reach out to some old friends — Brick and Mordecai — as a nod to their shared backstory.

How Brick & Mordecai Would Change Borderlands 2

The Introduction Of Brick & Mordecai Would Change The Team's Dynamic In The Movie Sequel

With two huge Borderlands characters missing from the movie, the future introduction of Brick and Mordecai would certainly change the squad's dynamics. For example, Krieg (Florian Munteanu), another tank-like character, seems to be filling Brick's role in the Borderlands movie. Meanwhile, Blanchett's Lillith seems much more fast-talking and snarky than her video game counterpart — new traits that overlap with Mordecai's character. If Brick and Mordecai crop up in the Borderlands sequel, the movie will have to keep them true to the games, all while ensuring they stand out in the group's dynamic.

Borderlands premieres in theaters on August 9, 2024.

Source: IGN