Roku Original Comedy "Die Hart 2: Die Harter" Begins Production, John Cena, Ben Schwartz, and Paula Pell Added to Cast; Nathalie Emmanuel to Return for Season 2

Hartbeat produces season 2 of the record-setting Kevin Hart-led series

Eric Appel returns to direct the production, with Tripper Clancy returning as writer

· Today, Roku announced that John Cena, Ben Schwartz, and Paula Pell have joined the cast of the highly anticipated Roku Original comedy series "Die Hart 2: Die Harter." Emmy award nominee Nathalie Emmanuel will reprise her role from season 1.

· In addition to starring in the series, Kevin Hart also serves as executive producer.

· Eric Appel has returned to direct season 2 of the comedy series, with Tripper Clancy returning to write.

· From Hartbeat, the global, multi-platform media company creating entertainment where comedy meets culture, Hart, Jeff Clanagan, Candice Wilson Cherry, Bryan Smiley, Thai Randolph, Mike Stein, Luke Kelly-Clyne, Kevin Healey and Ty Walker will serve as executive producers.

· Series Synopsis: After achieving his dream of becoming a bona fide action hero in DIE HART, Kevin Hart now wants to cement his legacy as the greatest action star of all time. He's developed a concept for a revolutionary movie where the action is so unscripted and unexpected that even Kevin won't know what's coming next. But Kevin's myopic dream comes with a blind spot, and he soon finds himself the victim of an evil revenge plot, orchestrated by someone from his past. Kevin must enlist the help of his favorite co-star Jordan King (Nathalie Emmanuel, returning for season 2), his over-eager assistant Andre (Ben Schwartz), Andre's mom Cynthia (Paula Pell), and legendary Hollywood stuntman Mr. 206 (John Cena) if he wants to survive.

· The first season of the series, "Die Hart," premiered on The Roku Channel in May 2021. After a successful debut with a record number of households streaming the series, Roku announced plans to order a second season of the series in June 2021. "Die Hart" was the first Roku Original series that the company renewed.

· "Die Hart" earned three Emmy award nominations in 2021- Outstanding Actor In A Short Form Comedy Or Drama Series (Kevin Hart & John Travolta, respectively), and Outstanding Actress In A Short Form Comedy Or Drama Series (Nathalie Emmanuel).

· Production for "Die Hart 2: Die Harter" is underway in Atlanta, Ga.

QUOTES

· Colin Davis, Head of Scripted Originals, The Roku Channel: "The next installment of DIE HART certainly deserves the added -ER. This franchise has leveled up with the return of Nathalie Emmanuel and Kevin Hart and the addition of Paula Pell, Ben Schwartz, and John Cena. The set has been filled with non-stop laughter from this concoction of comedy talent, and it's just the latest example of our incredible creative relationship and growing partnership with Hartbeat."

· Eric Appel, Director, "Die Hart 2: Die Harter": "I'm so happy to be back in Atlanta working with Kevin, Nathalie and our incredible new cast members. The scope of this second season feels a lot bigger - it's funnier, it's more action packed, and our fictional version of Kevin Hart is 100 times more petty and selfish in his ongoing quest to become an 'authentic' action hero."

· Executive Producer and Hartbeat's Chief Content Officer Bryan Smiley: "Hartbeat is excited to expand on the hilarious, action-packed world our cast and creative team have established. The feedback we've received from fans who continue to discover and binge the series has been incredible and is a testament to The Roku Channel's incredible audience reach. We're looking forward to bringing fans even more laughter in this second installment."

BACKGROUND

· The Roku Channel is the exclusive home of Roku Originals. From award-winning scripted entertainment and engaging documentaries to new breakout unscripted series, Roku Originals gives viewers free access to bold, fresh entertainment from the biggest names in Hollywood. Half of the top 10 on-demand titles by reach on The Roku Channel in 2021 were Roku Originals.

· Launched in 2017, The Roku Channel is the home of free and premium entertainment on the Roku platform. In Q4 2021, The Roku Channel reached U.S. households with an estimated 80 million people. The Roku Channel was a top 5 channel on the Roku platform in the U.S. by active account reach and streaming hour engagement in Q2 2022. Today, The Roku Channel features a diverse lineup of more than 80,000 free movies and programs and over 300 free live linear television channels in the U.S. It licenses and distributes content from more than 250 partners. In addition to Roku devices, The Roku Channel is available on Web, iOS and Android devices, Amazon Fire TV and select Samsung TVs and can be accessed internationally in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.

· Founded by Kevin Hart, HARTBEAT is the global, multi-platform media company creating entertainment at the intersection of comedy and culture with a mission to keep the world laughing together. HARTBEAT delivers comedy through its three divisions: HARTBEAT Studios, which finances, develops and produces innovative content; HARTBEAT Media, which connects with consumers around the world through events and the company's expansive distribution network; and PULSE, the company's branded entertainment studio that serves as a creative and cultural consultancy to brand. HARTBEAT's flagship consumer brand, the LOL! Network, reaches audiences across its O&O social media, audio, and OTT partners.

· Led by an award-winning team, HARTBEAT is a valuable partner to the biggest entertainment companies, platforms and brands in the world, driving cultural currency and generating sales, subscriptions, buzz, and conversation with some of the most coveted audiences.