Borderlands movie has a new writer for its 'Mad Max in space' adventure

The big-screen adaptation of Gearbox Software’s Borderlands game franchise appears to be gaining some momentum, with studio Lionsgate recruiting a new writer for the project.

Screenwriter Aaron Berg, who penned a draft of the screenplay for a third G.I. Joe movie and the upcoming period-piece spy thriller Section 6, has reportedly joined the writing team for Borderlands and will pen a screenplay for the video game adaptation. The film is being described as “Mad Max in space.”

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film is expected to be an edgy, R-rated adventure based on the hit franchise, which spawned three games that sold more than 26 million copies collectively. The original Borderlands pitted colonists stranded on a distant planet called Pandora against horrifying creatures awakened from hibernation.

Spider-Man franchise producer Avi Arad and his Arad Productions are developing the Borderlands movie, which was first announced in May 2015.

“Borderlands has a unique, story-driven narrative energy and rich multidimensional characters that position it to become a singular motion picture event,” said Arad in a statement accompanying the official announcement of the project last year.

There’s currently no official timeline for the film’s development.