Kevin Hart has officially joined the cast of Lionsgate’s Borderlands movie.
Hart will portray the role of Roland, a skilled soldier-turned-mercenary. Directed by Eli Roth (Cabin Forever), the Borderlands movie is a live-action adaptation of the popular video game series of the same name. Set in the distant future, the flick follows four “Vault Hunters” who travel to the distant planet Pandora to hunt down an alien vault rumored to contain advanced alien technology. The most recent draft of the screenplay was penned by Craig Mazin (Chernobyl).
The news that Hart will be playing Roland in the Borderlands movie comes eight months after Cate Blanchett was cast as Lilith, a siren and legendary thief equipped with magical skills.
“I’m thrilled to be working with Kevin,” said Roth in a statement. “Borderlands is a different kind of role for him, and we are excited to thrill audiences with a side of Kevin they’ve never seen before. He’s going to be an amazing Roland.”
Nathan Kahane, president of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, added: “Kevin has been behind some of the world’s biggest blockbusters, and our source material is inspired by one of the world’s best-selling video games. We love the way our filmmaking team has adapted this story and we couldn’t be in better creative hands.”
In an Instagram post, Hart confirmed his casting, writing: “This is a BIG one….So excited to be working with Cate Blanchett & Eli Roth on such an amazing project. ‘Borderlands’ …..Wooooooow. God is gooooooood!!!!! Let’s goooooooo #HustleHart.”
While a lot of people are happy about Hart joining the project, some fans of the video game series don’t think he’s fit for the role.
That’s cool but are they gonna use a lot of cgi to make u look taller
— Rey (@FaydzFire) January 26, 2021
I'm sure Roland is like 6'5 or something and Kevin Harts like 2'6…Weird casting choice imo
— Craig (@Vulgar_cowboy) January 26, 2021
Not to this extent. He just doesnt have any characteristics of him. His voice,no offense but height,etc. Its not gonna work. If he stays roland then this movie is doomed
— Papakahn94 (@Papakahn94) January 26, 2021
Bro, Roland is built like Dwayne Johnson, how you gonna fill that role? If anything I’d say you’d be a pretty kickass Mordecai.
— The Gaming Dragon (@DrakeWingGaming) January 27, 2021
As Roland? No, I can’t picture it. Roland is big(no offense of course), better suited for say Terry Crews.
Claptrap is more your style. The humor, smart alec, nut job. Again, no disrespect.
But I will say CONGRATS!. And will be interested in your vision for Roland.— RJ1968 (@RJ1968) January 26, 2021
That’s cool but are they gonna use a lot of cgi to make u look taller
— Rey (@FaydzFire) January 26, 2021
In fact, a number of Twitter users think Hart would be more fitting as the voice of Claptrap, an overenthusiastic robot that brags frequently yet also expresses loneliness and cowardice.
I would like to see him voice claptrap though
— Ethan (@Ethan36665931) January 26, 2021
You would’ve made a great claptrap.
But fucking Roland?!
— Ryan O’Connell (@DominantCub72) January 26, 2021
Congratulations on getting the highly sought after role of Claptrap. Excited to watch!
— J. M. Abbott ???? (@jakemabbott) January 26, 2021
Though Roland is a more serious acting turn for Hart who is known for his comedic chops, some fans are giving him the chance to prove that he can pull off the role.
I friggin hate everybody who’s saying that Kevin won’t make a good Roland. Sure he’s a goofy guy, but acting is acting. Anyone can play the part if given the chance. And is anyone really gonna notice how shorter Kevin is than Roland? Watch the movie before you judge it.
— br0br0123 (@br0br0123) January 27, 2021
I’m hoping you prove all the angry people wrong and show us that you’ll make a great Roland!
— Ross (@DeAdSHot_ZA) January 26, 2021
Launched in 2009, Borderlands is a role-playing first-person shooter game created and developed by Gearbox Software and published by Take-Two Interactive Software’s 2K label. The game is set on the planet of Pandora, which has been abandoned by a mega-corporation prior to the game events. There are already four installments in the video game series: Borderlands (2009), Borderlands 2 (2012), Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel (2014), and Borderlands 3 (2019). Additionally, the franchise has also released spinoff games, soundtracks, comic series, novels, and tabletop games.
The Borderlands movie is being produced by Avi and Ari Arad through their Arad Productions banner, along with Erik Feig through his Picturestart label. Also executive producing are Gearbox Software CEO Randy Pitchford and Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick.
Hart’s last movie outing is 2019’s Jumanji: The Next Level. He will be next seen in the drama film Fatherhood (April 16th), which follows a man whose wife dies shortly after childbirth, and in the action-comedy movie The Man From Toronto (September 17th) opposite Woody Harrelson and Kaley Cuoco.
The Borderlands movie doesn’t have a release date yet.
