Renowned writer and co-creator of The Last of Us TV series, Craig Mazin, has made the decision to remove his name from the long-awaited Borderlands movie. According to reports from World of Reel and the Writer’s Guild of America (WGA) website, the current credited writers on the project are Eli Roth and Joe Crombie. Interestingly, Crombie is revealed to be a pseudonym for Mazin, indicating his desire to disassociate himself from the troubled production.
The film adaptation of the popular video game franchise has faced numerous challenges, finding itself trapped in development hell. A test screening in November left Lionsgate dissatisfied, prompting them to order additional work on the movie. This setback, coupled with the messy post-production process, has led to Deadpool director Tim Miller stepping in to replace Eli Roth for reshoots.
Mazin’s decision to use a pseudonym comes at a time when he is in high demand in Hollywood. His recent success with HBO’s The Last of Us adaptation, as well as the critically acclaimed Chernobyl miniseries, has solidified his reputation as a top-tier writer. With the Borderlands movie’s troubled history, it’s understandable why Mazin would want to avoid any potential damage to his career.
The film’s production has seen its fair share of changes and setbacks. Initially, Sam Levinson, creator of Euphoria and The Idol, was hired to write for the movie. Filming began in 2021 with a star-studded cast, including Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Jack Black. However, after the test screening, the studio ordered a script overhaul, leading to the involvement of seven different writers, including Zak Olkewicz and Aaron Berg.
Despite the ongoing turmoil, the official website for the Borderlands movie still lists Mazin as a writer, alongside Eli Roth as the director. The movie’s plot revolves around Lilith, played by Cate Blanchett, a notorious outlaw who returns to her home planet to find the missing daughter of the powerful S.O.B. Atlas, portrayed by Édgar Ramírez. Lilith forms an unlikely team consisting of Roland, Tiny Tina, and Claptrap, as they battle various threats to save the world.
In other news, Mazin’s partner on The Last of Us series, Neil Druckmann, is set to take on the role of President at Naughty Dog, the developers behind the Uncharted and The Last of Us games. Co-president Evan Wells has announced his retirement after a remarkable 25-year tenure at the company. Wells expressed confidence in Druckmann’s ability to lead the studio into the future.
As for the Borderlands movie, there is currently no release date set. The troubled production and multiple script rewrites have undoubtedly caused delays. However, fans of the beloved video game franchise continue to eagerly anticipate its arrival on the big screen.
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