Cate Blanchett

Let’s face it. Cate Blanchett is a national treasure. And today, the two times Academy award winner made a lot of Borderlands fans very happy.

Probably a dozen media outlets reported on the news that Blanchett is in talks to play Lilith in the announced Borderlands video game adaptation. Eli Roth will be directing the Borderlands adaptation for Lionsgate, while Craig Mazin is in charge of writing the script.

Cate Blanchett and Borderlands: A great idea in the making?

However, there are several reasons for the making of this post. First and foremost, the exciting news about the upcoming video adaptation. Secondly, the Borderlands sale that you can expect here at IndieGala very shortly. And last but certainly not least, my love, admiration and appreciation of Cate’s talents.  Yes. That’s plural.

You see, she’s a true chameleon. Cate’s ability to assimilate and eventually become the character that’s she playing is uncanny. And intriguing I might add. But more on miss Blanchett later. Let’s start with the project that she will hopefully get her hands on.

Cate Blanchett

Borderlands: What’s it all about?

It’s in fact, an open world action, role-playing first-person shooter video game. First developed in 2009 by Gearbox Software and published by 2K Games.  Set in a distant future, Borderland’s story focuses on a group of four „Vault Hunters“.

They travel to the distant planet Pandora in order to hunt down an alien vault.  The vault on the other hand is rumored to contain advanced alien technology. So, while on the location, the Vault Hunters will find themselves battling the local wildlife and bandit population.

Most noteworthy of all their missions, they’ll ultimately attempt to stop the head of a private corporation army from reaching the vault first. And of course stealing the alien technology all for his greedy needs.

And just who Lilith is? She’s is part of Borderlands’ “Siren” class. Originally from the planet Dionysus, Lilith is one of six Sirens. A group of women with rather unbelievable powers. Ultimately known as one of the most powerful ladies in the Borderlands universe, Lilith is a favorite of plenty of gamers out there.

Then again, whether or not the movie adaptation will do the character (and therefore the video game) justice, remains to be seen. But for now, let’s remind ourselves of the beautiful and very talented Cate Blanchett.

Borderlands

Cate Blanchett: The true queen of Hollywood

What’s the first thing that you think of, when you hear the name Cate Blanchett?

Period piece costume dramas? Certainly a niche for playing historical figures? True. The Australian actress played several of the history’s greatest ladies. Indeed she plays queens with the same dedication as she plays regular journalists. But, although she’s probably best known for playing Queen Elizabeth I, she also played the Hollywood legend Katharine Hepburn as well.

And let’s not forget the murdered Irish journalist Veronica Guerin too.

However, if you take good look at her resume, you’ll notice some of the most diverse and eclectic roles for any actress out there. Besides being a fan of historical figures, Blanchett has been lauded for her roles in fiction and SF genres as well.

To the fans of J. R. R. Tolkien, Cate Blanchett is the ultimate Galadriel. Even more, to all the Marvel fans out there, she’s the perfect Hela. She can play an Elf and a Norse god without an ounce of hesitation. And I have no doubt in my mind that she’ll be perfect Lillith in the Borderlands video game adaptation.

Cate Blanchett

Cate Blanchett: Versatile and adaptable

But that’s what I love about Cate Blanchett. She’s so versatile and easily adaptable. Seems like when everybody in Hollywood was trying to fit in a mold themselves in a cliché boxes, she was doing the opposite of that.

And it paid off. Why? Because not fitting in a mold or not being typecast extended her career. Think of Meryl Streep. She did that as well, back in her day. Although both Kate and Meryl are gorgeous ladies, they both made their talent to be front and center of career. Not their beauty.

Also, Cate is one of the few actresses in Hollywood that could play anything and it would be 100% believable. She’s fantastic as the hero of the story, but she can play a kick-ass villain in a heartbeat.

Just take a look at her career. She played sociopaths, jewelry thieves, killers on the run, and lonely desperate housewives.  And she even played men as well. Think about it. That was Cate in the role of Bob Dylan. But of course you can thank her talent for most of those roles, not just the very talented costume and makeup design. Sure, they help a lot, but it’s up to Cate to deliver the goods in the end.

Cate Blanchett

Favorite Cate Blanchett movies

I’m pretty much certain that everyone has a favorite Cate Blanchett movie.

Sure I adore her in the Lord Of The Rings trilogy. And indeed she can play a great Elizabeth I. But I’m a huge fan of those lesser known movies in her career.

Movies like The Shipping News, Heaven, An Ideal Husband, Hanna and The Missing. Furthermore, she’ll be starring in Guillermo Del Toro’s latest project, Nightmare Alley and I can’t wait for that one, to be honest. Cate and Bradley Cooper in a same movie? Yes please!

But regardless of which movie you’ll end up choosing from Cate’s vast and extensive filmography. You’ll adore her versatility, her way with different accents and her willingness to transform in the character at hand. She’s a true auteur of the craft, and I think she’ll do her part magnificently. Lilith is a tough character to portray, but if she decides to choose the character, she’ll be fantastic. I just know it.

Your thoughts

What are your thoughts on the Borderlands video game adaptation? Do you think that Cate Blanchett is the right person for the job? And furthermore, what’s your favorite Cate Blanchett movie? Tell us in the comments below. We’d love to hear all about it.

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