“I get to show people another side”: Kevin Hart’s ‘Borderlands’ Role Could Finally Turn His Fate in Hollywood For One Sole Reason

American actor-comedian Kevin Hart rose to fame for his stand-up comedy and has always been known for his loud, unapologetic humor. In the movies, fans have loved him as the sidekick and the comic relief. But it looks like Hart is about to flip the script on his fans this time.

Hart’s upcoming movie Borderlands is based on the popular video game series. It is full of chaos, guns, and alien monsters. Now, some may picture Hart cracking jokes while dodging bullets in the film. But this is not a typical Hart movie. In fact, it might be something that reshapes his career.

Kevin Hart Vows to Show His Different Side in Borderlands

Kevin Hart has been a common face in Hollywood comedies for years. But it is quite well known by now that he has often been typecast. The fast-talking, bumbling sidekick who is there for laughs and taking jokes on himself. For example, his roles in Ride Along, Central Intelligence, and Jumanji are absolutely funny. But they are not exactly stretching his acting muscles.

In Borderlands, Hart is playing the character of Roland, who is a soldier with a complex past. This is not his typical goofy sidekick role. This is a leader who puts his team before himself and someone who has seen some serious stuff. As Hart told Deadline,

I wanted to exceed expectations. So the physicality of the role, I know, would be high demand. It was something I welcomed.

Hart expects this role will give him a chance to show a different side of himself, especially his physicality and action side. He said,

You don’t know what people are capable of until they show you. So this is a case where I feel like I get to show people another side of the acting chops, and more importantly, the physicality within the task.

And from what can be seen in the trailer, Hart is not kidding around. He is handling weapons, getting into fights, and looking like a proper action hero.

But Hart is not alone here. Borderlands has a star-studded cast including Cate Blanchett, Jack Black, and Jamie Lee Curtis. Judging by the cast, it can be expected that the movie will be a mix of both action and humor, but not in the way the audience is used to seeing from Hart.

The plot is as crazy as one would expect from Borderlands. The official synopsis talks about a mission to find a missing girl on a planet taken over by corporate greed. There is treasure to be found, aliens to fight, and a universe to save on Pandora.

How Kevin Hart Became Roland for Borderlands?

How much of Kevin Hart is in Roland? According to Hart himself, he resembles his character quite a bit. In an interview with VIBE, he said,

“There’s a nice little portion. I am very good in the weapon space of life. I can operate and handle myself in that region very well. I am a fit guy. If it came down to any type of fighting atmosphere, I can fend for myself pretty well.”

But it is not just about the physical stuff. Hart sees similarities between Roland and him in his leadership skills too. He said, “I’m also a great delegator.” Judging by his statements, it can be seen that Hart has not just played Roland, he has tried to find parts of himself in the character.

Besides going to the gym to get into the shape of the character, Hart also spent time playing the Borderlands game in order to get accustomed to the world of Pandora and to understand why it has such a huge fan base.

Hart has shown dedication to get into the role. Moreover, it is sometimes difficult for a comedian to convince people with his statement about his serious side, as they often times feel the person is joking even if he is being serious. Only time will tell if Borderlands will change that perspective for Kevin Hart.

Borderlands will be released in theaters on August 9, 2024.