Jumanji star and comedian Kevin Hart has been signed to play Roland in the coming period Borderlands film according to The Hollywood Reporter. Yeah, I don’t get it either.
Borderlands is directed by horror maestro Eli Roth based on a screenplay by Chernobyl creator Craig Mazin. Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford and Take-Two Interactive’s CEO Strauss Zelnick serve as executive producers.
“I love working with Kevin,” Roth said in a statement The Hollywood Reporter. “Borderlands is a different kind of role for him, and we’re excited to surprise audiences with a side of Kevin they’ve never seen before. He’s going to be a great Roland. “
Hart is the second actor to join the Borderlands cast to Cate Blanchett, who will play Siren firestarter Lilith despite my colleague Luke Plunkett’s argues the contrary.
He’s not really my thing, but even fans of the little comedian have to admit that Hart is a strange choice for Roland, a stacked, stoic mercenary who often acts as the straight guy in the games’ bizarre plots. Anyway, what could go wrong when you give a series that has already been criticized for its meme-filled dialogue another funny dude to shout seeming jokes at the audience.