Die Hart
| Die Hart | |
|---|---|
 Official poster | |
| Genre | Comedy Action-adventure |
| Screenplay by | Tripper Clancy |
| Story by | Tripper Clancy Derek Kolstad |
| Directed by | Eric Appel Josh Ruben |
| Starring | |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 25 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Camera setup | Single-camera |
| Running time | 10 minutes |
| Production company | LOL Studios |
| Original release | |
| Network | Quibi (season 1) The Roku Channel (season 2–present) |
| Release | July 20, 2020 – present |
Die Hart is an American comedy action-adventure television series that premiered on the streaming service Quibi on July 20, 2020. The series stars Kevin Hart as a fictionalized version of himself, with John Travolta, Nathalie Emmanuel and Josh Hartnett playing supporting roles in the first season. The series received seven nominations at the Primetime Emmy Awards for the actors' performances.[1][2]
The first season was re-edited into a feature film (also titled Die Hart) released on Prime Video in February 2023.[3] Following the success of the first season and the closure of Quibi, the second season was released on The Roku Channel in March 2023. Like its first season, the second season was re-edited into a feature film (titled Die Hart 2: Die Harter) released on Prime Video in May 2024.
Cast and characters
[edit]Main
[edit]- Kevin Hart as himself, a Hollywood actor who wishes to become an action hero, and refuses to be seen as a laughing stock. He goes off on a talk show, which ultimately causes his career to plummet. He is offered a role in an action film directed by Claude and is forced to join an action star training camp led by Ron.
- Hart also plays Doug Eubanks, his stunt double (season 2)
- John Travolta as Ron Wilcox (season 1), the owner and operator of an action star boot camp that Kevin becomes a student of, yet at the start of the series he openly dislikes Kevin.
- Nathalie Emmanuel as Jordan King, a female student who befriends Kevin despite their awkward relations. She mentions halfway through the series that she's from Chicago, but at the penultimate episodes she drops her American accent to reveal she's actually from Essex, UK.
- Josh Hartnett as himself (season 1), an actor who is friends with Ron, and a former student of his boot camp.
- Ben Schwartz as Andre (season 2), Kevin Hart's assistant, who is very loyal to Hart, despite his belittlement[4]
- Paula Pell as Cynthia (season 2)[4]
- John Cena as Mr. 206 (season 2)[4]
- Anna Garcia as Pearl, a supposed Juilliard-trained actress who ingratiates herself with Kevin (season 3)
- Tony Cavalero as Agent Fisher, the FBI agent assigned to track down Kevin for murder (season 3)
- Kathryn Hahn as Jillian Jones, a famous character actress with impeccable skills of impersonation who wants to move into directing (season 3)
- J. K. Simmons as Jackson Pepper, a gruff, perfectionist Hollywood director and living legend who Kevin approaches for a role in his new film (season 3)
Recurring
[edit]- Jean Reno as Claude Van De Velde, the European director of Kevin's new film, who forces him to take part in a training camp to develop the skills needed to play an action hero (season 1)
- Brandon Quinn as Danny Morrison, Kevin’s manager.
Episodes
[edit]Series overview
[edit]| Season | Episodes | Originally released | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | Network | |||
| 1 | 10 | July 20, 2020 | July 29, 2020 | Quibi | |
| 2 | 8 | March 31, 2023 | The Roku Channel | ||
| 3 | 7 | December 13, 2024 | |||
Season 1 (2020)
[edit]| No. overall | No. in season | Title [5] | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Prod. code [5] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "The Recruit" | Eric Appel | Derek Kolstad & Tripper Clancy | July 20, 2020 | 101 |
|
Actor and comedian Kevin Hart unexpectedly goes off on a talk show on how he is unhappy that he is seen as a laughing stock, mocking his fans and the audience. His career goes sideways following the incident, but he is later offered a starring role in a new action film that could revive his career. Director of the film, Claude Van De Velde, insists he train at a strange, secluded action star boot camp before filming led by Ron Wilcox (John Travolta). | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Man on Fire" | Eric Appel | Derek Kolstad & Tripper Clancy | July 20, 2020 | 102 |
|
Kevin settles into the boot camp in undesirable conditions. Ron tests Kevin’s abilities by having him save a dummy version of himself from a burning building. Kevin barely escapes and Ron ridicules him. | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Wonder Woman" | Eric Appel | Derek Kolstad & Tripper Clancy | July 20, 2020 | 103 |
| 4 | 4 | "Sex, Lies and Videotape" | Eric Appel | Derek Kolstad & Tripper Clancy | July 21, 2020 | 104 |
| 5 | 5 | "The Truman Show" | Eric Appel | Derek Kolstad & Tripper Clancy | July 22, 2020 | 105 |
| 6 | 6 | "The Godfather" | Eric Appel | Derek Kolstad & Tripper Clancy | July 23, 2020 | 106 |
| 7 | 7 | "The Great Escape" | Eric Appel | Derek Kolstad & Tripper Clancy | July 24, 2020 | 107 |
| 8 | 8 | "Bad Boys" | Eric Appel | Derek Kolstad & Tripper Clancy | July 27, 2020 | 108 |
| 9 | 9 | "Live Free or Die Hard" | Eric Appel | Derek Kolstad & Tripper Clancy | July 28, 2020 | 109 |
| 10 | 10 | "True Lies" | Eric Appel | Derek Kolstad & Tripper Clancy | July 29, 2020 | 110 |
Season 2 (2023)
[edit]| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 1 | "Hart Broken" | Eric Appel | Tripper Clancy | March 31, 2023 |
| 12 | 2 | "Escape From Hell" | Eric Appel | Tripper Clancy | March 31, 2023 |
| 13 | 3 | "The Legend of Stromberg" | Eric Appel | Tripper Clancy | March 31, 2023 |
| 14 | 4 | "Like Mother Like Son" | Eric Appel | Tripper Clancy | March 31, 2023 |
| 15 | 5 | "The Famous Mondolvias" | Eric Appel | Tripper Clancy | March 31, 2023 |
| 16 | 6 | "Episode Mr. 206" | Eric Appel | Tripper Clancy | March 31, 2023 |
| 17 | 7 | "Licensed and Bonded" | Eric Appel | Tripper Clancy | March 31, 2023 |
| 18 | 8 | "Face Off" | Eric Appel | Tripper Clancy | March 31, 2023 |
Season 3 (2024)
[edit]| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | 1 | "The Peanut Man" | Josh Ruben | Tripper Clancy | December 13, 2024 | |
|
Kevin's attempt to take on a more challenging and dramatic role, the George Washington Carver biopic Peanut Man, fails miserably at the box office. He confesses to Danny that he wants to finally be recognized with an Oscar for his acting. For help, he meets with previous Oscar winner Jillian Jones as she engages in method acting for a role as a line cook. Despite slicing off the tip of her finger while distracted by Kevin's questions, Jillian sends him to meet with her friend, the legendary filmmaker Jackson Pepper. Jackson is unimpressed by Kevin and asks if he would be willing to "kill" for a shot at a role in his new movie. When Kevin says yes, Jackson attacks him and the actor winds up killing him in self-defense. | ||||||
| 20 | 2 | "The Relatively Small Package" | Josh Ruben | Tripper Clancy | December 13, 2024 | |
|
For the last two years, Jordan, hoping to score a role in Jackson's movie, has committed numerous crimes as a professional cat burglar using her acting skills and combat training. Increasingly disillusioned with a life of crime, she complains to her agent; the agent's response is that working with Jackson Pepper is her only chance to rise above being an otherwise forgettable stage actor. Jordan's "handler" has her steal car keys from a locker at a bus station, during which she manages to outwit FBI Agent Fisher in a sting operation. Following a preprogrammed route in the car's navigation system, Jordan arrives at a mailbox containing instructions to act as getaway driver for a "screaming man". Just then, Kevin comes running up and asks her for help. | ||||||
| 21 | 3 | "The Fisher King" | Josh Ruben | Tripper Clancy | December 13, 2024 | |
|
Both Jordan and Kevin are confused by each other's presence and start peppering the other with questions. Jordan admits that she is technically working for an audition with Jackson, to which Kevin confesses to having killed him. A shocked Jordan suggests going to the police, but Kevin refuses out of fear. Fisher takes control of the crime scene and quickly obtains evidence and video footage proving that Kevin is guilty of Jackson's murder. Jordan asks Kevin about his fear, and he notes that no black male actor would ever receive the benefit of the doubt from cops. When Jordan brings up O.J. Simpson, Kevin snaps and tries to wrest control of the car. This results in the pair striking a woman who steps in front of them and sending her flying. | ||||||
| 22 | 4 | "The Vacuum from Sarasota" | Josh Ruben | Tripper Clancy | December 13, 2024 | |
|
Kevin places the seemingly dead woman in the car and takes over driving, but just as he and Jordan are arguing over whether to take the body to a hospital, the woman surprises them and reveals that she only injured her arm. Kevin pulls over and demands answers. The woman, who introduces herself as Pearl, says that she is also an actress who previously met with Jackson about his movie. In turn, Jackson instructed her to allow herself to be run over by Kevin and Jordan, and that if she survived, her role was to become their "rock". Thinking over what to do next, Kevin decides to check the crime scene of Jackson's murder. With no other options, he contacts Jimmy and is provided with a forensic cleaner's disguise and fake beard. | ||||||
| 23 | 5 | "The Legend of Lionel Pendergrass" | Josh Ruben | Tripper Clancy | December 13, 2024 | |
|
Putting on Jimmy's disguise, Kevin uses method acting to assume the identity of "Lionel Pendergrass". Through a combination of fast talking and quick improvisation, "Lionel" is able to access the crime scene without an ID and soon runs into Fisher. He convinces Fisher that the area is being contaminated and that he needs immediate access to all the evidence gathered so far. While Fisher is distracted, Kevin slips into the bathroom and stuffs the physical evidence in a toilet before escaping with the videos. Jordan and Pearl have a heart-to-heart about their careers, and Jordan urges Pearl to not repeat her mistakes by letting others tell her what roles to take. Just then, Kevin returns; Fisher suddenly appears and takes the group into custody. | ||||||
| 24 | 6 | "The Face of Guffey Light" | Josh Ruben | Tripper Clancy | December 13, 2024 | |
|
Fisher shoves Kevin in the trunk of his car while Pearl and Jordan are restrained and put in the back. As they drive off, Pearl confesses to Jordan that she is not, in fact, a trained actress, but simply wanted to impress her. Touched, Jordan admits her past crimes and wins Pearl's affection for "sharing her truth". Pearl also recognizes Fisher for his past work as an actor in beer commercials; this results in Fisher sharing his life story of being an aspiring actor so eager to win Jackson's approval that he joined the FBI and spent ten years "researching" a possible future role. Believing that his hard work is now in vain because of Kevin's meddling, he takes the group to a remote waste disposal plant and reveals his intention to murder them in an act of vengeance. | ||||||
| 25 | 7 | "The Code of Hammurabi" | Josh Ruben | Tripper Clancy | December 13, 2024 | |
|
As Fisher prepares to kill him, Kevin performs an off-the-cuff, fully ad-libbed monologue while Jordan cuts through her restraints. Moved by Kevin's humility, Fisher is about to let him go only for Kevin to mock him by admitting that he made it all up. Jordan then punches him out cold and frees Kevin and Pearl. Jackson then appears and reveals that his "murder" was an elaborate deception using props and special effects, assisted by Jillian who used prosthetic makeup to disguise herself as a coroner. He explains his actions by stating that the group needed to demonstrate the ability to completely disappear into their roles, while coldly dismissing Fisher for "breaking character". Eighteen months later, Kevin, Pearl, and Jordan are all Oscar winners, while Jackson wins another Oscar for his directing. As the group celebrates, he excuses himself; it is then revealed that "Jackson" is actually Jillian in more prosthetics, having beat Jackson to death and taken his place to finally prove herself as a director. | ||||||
Production
[edit]On September 17, 2020, Quibi renewed the series for a second season.[6][7][8] In January 2021, Quibi's content library was sold to Roku, Inc. for less than $100 million.[9] The series was rebranded as a "Roku Original",[10][11] and moved to The Roku Channel on May 20. Following viewership success, Roku renewed the series for a second season, which premiered on March 31, 2023.[12]
When asked about the renewal at Roku, CEO of LOL Studios Jeff Clanagan said:
"The return of Die Hart marks a pivotal moment in the continued growth and expansion of LOL Studios. We’re excited for the opportunity to team up with Roku and be the first Roku Original to get a second season. We can’t wait for fans to dive into what is sure to be an even bigger, more action-packed season two."[12]
In April 2023, the series was renewed for a third season, which premiered on December 13, 2024.[13][14]
Casting
[edit]Kevin Hart stars as a fictionalized version of himself in both seasons. The first season features John Travolta and Nathalie Emmanuel in supporting roles. On September 21, 2022, John Cena, Ben Schwartz and Paula Pell were cast in the second season in supporting roles, with Emmanuel confirmed to return alongside Hart.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ "Die Hart". Television Academy. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
- ^ "Die Hart 2: Die Harter". Television Academy. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (January 12, 2023). "Kevin Hart's 'Die Hart' Series Refashioned As 'Die Hart The Movie' For Prime Video". Deadline. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Spangler, Todd (September 21, 2022). "Kevin Hart's 'Die Hart 2: Die Harter' Adds John Cena, Ben Schwartz, Paula Pell to Roku Comedy Series Cast". Variety. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
- ^ a b "Shows A-Z – die hart on roku". The Futon Critic. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- ^ Haring, Bruce (September 17, 2020). "Kevin Hart Gets Quibi Sequel For His Comedy Action Series 'Die Hart'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 20, 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
- ^ Patten, Dominic (October 21, 2020). "Quibi's Jeffrey Katzenberg & Meg Whitman Detail "Clear-Eyed" Decision To Shut It Down & What's Next". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
- ^ Alexander, Julia (October 22, 2020). "Quibi will shut down 'on or around' December 1st". The Verge. Archived from the original on October 24, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
- ^ Mullin, Benjamin (January 8, 2021). "Roku Acquires Rights to Quibi's Content". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
- ^ Keck, Catie (April 21, 2021). "Roku Wisely Rebrands Its Soon-to-Debut Quibi Content as 'Roku Originals'". Gizmodo. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
- ^ Porter, Jon (January 8, 2021). "Quibi's library will live on through the Roku Channel". The Verge. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- ^ a b Porter, Rick (June 8, 2021). "Kevin Hart Comedy 'Die Hart' Renewed at Roku". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
- ^ Campione, Katie (April 13, 2023). "Kevin Hart Comedy Series 'Die Hart' Renewed At Roku Channel After Record Premiere Weekend For Season 2". Deadline. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
- ^ Campione, Katie (November 19, 2024). "Kathryn Hahn, J.K. Simmons, Tony Cavalero & Anna Garcia Join 'Die Hart' Season 3". Deadline. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
