Roku extends first ‘original’ as ‘Die Hart’ enjoys ‘spectacular debut’

Die Hart

Free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) service The Roku Channel has ordered a second season of scripted series Die Hart, marking the AVOD company’s first ‘original’ to be extended. 

The commission of Die Harter follows Roku’s acquisition of the first season, Die Hart, from now defunct shortform streamer Quibi as part of a package deal valued at $100m.

Roku premiered the 10-part action comedy via its Roku Channel service on 20 May and the show “exploded out of the gate,” according to Colin Davis, Roku’s head of original scripted programming.

He added that the show had a “spectacular debut weekend” and had “quickly become one of the most watched Roku Originals,” although viewing figures were not revealed.

The second season of Die Hart, titled Die Harter, will again be produced by US-based LOL Studios, Laugh Out Loud’s in-house production division, and has the company’s Kevin Hart and Jeff Clanagan attached.

Tripper Clancy, Candice Wilson, Bryan Smiley and Thai Randolph also serve as executive producers, while Eric Appel will return to direct the second season, which had been in the works with Quibi prior to its demise last year.

“The return of Die Hart marks a pivotal moment in the continued growth and expansion of LOL Studios,” said LOL CEO Jeff Clanagan. “We’re excited for the opportunity to team up with Roku and be the first Roku Original to get a second season. We can’t wait for fans to dive into what is sure to be an even bigger, more action-packed season two.”

Roku has enjoyed a stellar 2021 to date, increasing its monthly active users (MAUs) by 35% in the first quarter of 2021, to reach a total of 53.6 million.

It has invested in launching new content to The Roku Channel and more recently said it was looking for further original IP additions, following the deal with Quibi.