Jack Black Calls His Role in Borderlands "R-Rated R2-D2"

jack black
Credit: GQ YouTube Channel

jack black
Credit: GQ YouTube Channel

Jack Black is set to star in the upcoming live-action movie adaptation of the Borderlands video game. The Kung Fu Panda 4 star will play the lovable robot known as Claptrap, who serves as a guide for players in the game.

Black, speaking with the Total Film podcast and reported by Gamesradar, not only discussed his love for video games but also described his character as "an R-rated R2-D2."

The actor is also passionate about video games and created Jablinski Games, his YouTube channel with over 5 million followers, where Black shares his love for gaming.

"I love the voice acting. I also love that video game, so it was fun to be able to voice that character.

"He's a cool, fun, little turn, and another opportunity to bring a great video game to the silver screen," he continued. "We're kind of in the middle of a video game movie renaissance right now, and I'm stoked to be a part of it."

The first trailer dropped for Borderlands last month and showcased Black's injection of humour to the proceedings as the potty-mouthed robot Claptrap.

No stranger to playing characters in a gaming franchise adaptation, Black played Bowser in the animated Super Mario Bros. Movie that raked in over $1.36 billion, not too shabby for two plumbers from Brooklyn.

The Borderlands movie will follow a similar story to the games, in which misfit treasure hunters team up and attempt to find vaults of treasure on various dangerous and hostile planets in the galaxy.

Borderlands all-star cast includes Cate Blanchett as Lilith, Kevin Hart as Roland, Jack Black as the voice of Claptrap, Edgar Ramírez as Atlas, Ariana Greenblatt as Tiny Tina, Florian Munteanu as Krieg, Gina Gershon as Mad Moxxi, and Jamie Lee Curtis as Dr. Patricia Tannis.

The movie is set to release on August 9, 2024.