J.K. Simmons Is Begging You to Watch More Roku Content
Oscar-winning actor J.K. Simmons recognizes the irony of receiving his first Emmy nomination for playing an awards-chasing industry figure. “We’re definitely in a life-imitates-art-imitates-life comedy conundrum here,” he tells The Hollywood Reporter, laughing. “It’s hilarious.”
The third season of the Kevin Hart shortform action-comedy Die Hart, subtitled Hart to Kill, sees Simmons portray egotistical director Jackson Pepper. “Of course, I’ve never encountered anybody like Jackson Pepper in Hollywood at all, so it was a complete piece of fiction for me,” he jokes. “Most of us in this business have egos. Sometimes you see bits and pieces of yourself in these unflattering characters and go, ‘Yeah, that’s a dick move, but I identify with where he’s coming from.’ It’s part of the fun.”
The series debuted on the now-defunct streaming platform Quibi in 2020. When Quibi’s content library was sold to Roku in 2021, the series was rebranded as a Roku Original. Fast-forward to four years later, and Die Hart: Hart to Kill has a total of three Emmy nominations for outstanding performer in the short form comedy or drama series, with co-stars Nathalie Emmanuel and Hart, who stars in the series as a fictionalized version of himself, also securing nods.
“It was a surprise that this was the one that came along with the nomination, because it’s such a crowded marketplace,” Simmons explains. “We thought Die Hart wasn’t getting as much attention as we hoped it would. Apparently we were wrong, because three of us are on the list, and that’s beautiful.
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“Any of us who have been bouncing around the business long enough has done work we’re very proud of that never got seen,” Simmons continues. “I always encourage people to seek out more content. You search through the big two or three and go, ‘Yeah, there’s nothing interesting,’ or you settle for something. Instead, go and check out Roku and some of the small- to medium-sized platforms because a ton of excellent work is being done. Die Hart is high on that list, and hopefully our three Emmy nominations for the cast are evidence of that.”
This story first appeared in an August stand-alone issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
