Borderlands cast: Full list of stars including Cate Blanchett

Indeed, not one but two Oscar-winners have been drafted in to play two of the iconic characters from the games, not to mention a couple of the most popular comic actors currently working.

If you're unsure what exactly Borderland is, it's a first-person shooting game – a sci-fi Western adventure that introduces various 'Vault Hunters' on a mission to find a mysterious key on the dangerous alien world of Pandora.

It has also become one of the most successful gaming franchises of the 21st century with a very devoted fan base, and so there was always going to be a lot of attention on who was playing the beloved characters and whether they could bring them to life in the way that would please die-hard fans.

Not all of the video game characters appear in the film, but several of the most prominent ones do, with the main story focusing on Lilith (Cate Blanchett) as she returns to her home planet of Pandora and attempts to locate the missing daughter of a powerful mogul named Atlas (Edgar Ramírez).

Along the way, she joins forces with Vault Hunter Roland, a young girl called Tiny Tina, a bodyguard known as Krieg, a scientist called Dr Patricia Tannis, and a robot named Claptrap.

But which famous faces are playing these characters? Read on for everything you need to know about the cast.

Borderlands cast

The confirmed cast list is as follows:

• Cate Blanchett as Lilith
• Edgar Ramirez as Atlas
• Kevin Hart as Roland
• Jack Black as the voice of Claptrap
• Jamie Lee Curtis as Dr Patricia Tannis
• Ariana Greenblatt as Tiny Tina
• Florian Munteanu as Krieg
• Gina Gershon as Mad Moxxi
• Haley Bennett as Lilith's mum
• Bobby Lee as Larry
• Olivier Richters as Krom
• Janina Gavankar as Commander Knoxx
• Cheyenne Jackson as Jakobs
• Charles Babalola as Hammerlock
• Benjamin Byron Davis as Marcus
• Steven Boyer as Scooter
• Ryann Redmond as Ellie
• Harry Ford as Middleman

Read on for everything you need to know about the stars and who they'll be playing.

Cate Blanchett plays Lilith

Who is Lilith? One of the characters in the first Borderlands who has since become one of the franchise’s most consistent figures. She is a Siren, one of six women around the world who were born with psionic abilities. Lilith is the lead character in the film and returns to her hometown of Pandora to locate the missing daughter of a powerful mogul.

What else has Cate Blanchett been in? Blanchett has bagged two Oscars, for her roles in The Aviator and Blue Jasmine, and has been nominated on a further five occasions, for Elizabeth, Notes on a Scandal, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, I'm Not There, and Carol. She also portrayed Galadriel in all 3 The Lord of the Rings films.

Her other credits include The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Cinderella, Thor: Ragnarok and Ocean's 8.

Kevin Hart plays Roland

Who is Roland? Roland was part of Borderlands’ original cast of playable characters. A former soldier for the Crimson Lance army, Roland left military life behind to become a Vault Hunter. Roland became a rebel leader in Borderlands 2. In the film he is presented as former elite mercenary desperate for redemption.

What else has Kevin Hart been in? Hart is known for his stand-up specials, as well as his roles in comedy movies including Little Fockers, Grudge Match, Ride Along, Get Hard, Central Intelligence, Jumanji, Night School and The Man from Toronto.

Jamie Lee Curtis plays Dr Patricia Tannis

Who is Dr Patricia Tannis? A scientist who had been sent on an ill-fated expedition to check out alien ruins on Pandora in the world of Borderlands. She becomes an ally to Vault Hunters like Lilith and Roland.

What else has Jamie Lee Curtis been in? Curtis has enjoyed a career resurgence since 2018 thanks to the new Halloween movies, as well as her roles in Knives Out and Everything Everywhere All At Once.

Ariana Greenblatt plays Tiny Tina

Who is Tiny Tina? A 13-year-old orphan and demolitions expert introduced in Borderlands 2 who has close bonds with some of the main characters. In the film, she is introduced as Atlas's daughter, who Lilith is charged with locating on Pandora.

What else has Ariana Greenblatt been in? Greenblatt's first child acting role was as Daphne Diaz in Stuck in the Middle in 2016. She went on to star in A Bad Moms Christmas, Avengers: Infinity War, In The Heights, Netflix science fiction thriller Awake, and 65 alongside Adam Driver. Most recently, the actress starred as the daughter of America Ferrera’s Gloria in Barbie.

Florian Munteanu plays Krieg

Who is Krieg? One of six playable characters in Borderlands 2. He’s from a bandit family, and becomes a "Bandit Psycho" after he’s captured and experimented on by Dr Benedict. In the the film, Krieg is Tiny Tina’s primary protector, a role he provided for Borderland 2’s Maya in the game.

Speaking to Screen Rant about how the game-to-film adaptation will handle his character last year, Munteanu said: "I mean, the character Krieg is such a fan-favourite and I feel like what [fans] saw in the game, or what they are used to seeing in the game, they can't expect exactly the same."

He continued: "I'm bringing my fighting style to the table as well as a humouristic way of playing the character. I think people will love it. But we'll have to wait until next year for that."

What else has Florian Munteanu been in? He is best known for his role as Viktor Drago in the Creed films, as well as his role as Razor Fist in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Other credits include The Contractor and the upcoming third season of Vikings: Valhalla.

Jack Black plays Claptrap

Who is Claptrap? A robot who accompanies Lilith on her journey in the film. Claptrap is an icon of the Borderlands franchise, and a comedic figure, accompanying and annoying the games’ many different characters through many missions, and often serving as the butt of jokes. In this vein, the trailer for the feature film saw Claptrap get booted down a hole by Kevin Hart’s Roland.

What else has Jack Black been in? Black is no stranger to voicing video game characters, and took on the role of Bowser in The Super Mario Bros Movie. He is also set to play Steve in the upcoming Minecraft movie. He has also starred in a number of films, including Orange County, School of Rock, Envy, Bernie, The House with a Clock in Its Walls, Gulliver's Travels and Jumanji.

Édgar Ramírez plays Atlas

Who is Atlas? In the world of Borderlands, Atlas is a powerful business titan and arms manufacturer – who in the film charges Lilith with locating his daughter.

What else has Édgar Ramírez been in? Ramírez has previously starred in films including The Bourne Ultimatum, Zero Dark Thirty, Joy, The Girl on the Train, Gold, Point Break, Yes Day, The 355 and Netflix comedy-thriller Florida Man.

Which other game characters are in Borderlands?

• Gina Gershon plays Mad Moxxi - one of Pandora’s shopkeepers and bartenders in the Borderlands franchise
• Steven Boyer plays Scooter - a gifted mechanic, who becomes a crucial ally to the Vault Hunters in the game by providing vehicles for the player characters
• Ryann Redmond plays Ellie - the sister of Mad Moxxi and Scooter’s sister in the Borderlands franchise. She is also a mechanic like her mother.
• Benjamin Byron Davis plays Marcus Kincaid - the narrator for the audience in Borderlands as well as the bus driver who takes the Vault Hunters to their first location, who goes on to open his own weapon and ammo shops around Pandora
• Charles Babalola plays Hammerlock - a game hunter and explorer in the world of Pandora, who was introduced in Borderlands 2 and may take on a larger role in the film
• Olivier Richters plays Krom - a prison warden working for the Dahl corporation in the world of Borderlands, who may take on a larger role in the movie

Borderlands will be released on Friday 9th August.

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