The Source Magazine had the opportunity to sit down with Kevin Hart to chat about his new film “Grudge Match,” which hits theaters on Dec. 25. We continued our conversation with Kevin at the film’s World Premiere at the Ziegfeld Theater, which was also a  benefit for the Tribeca Film Institute. Watch our exclusive video below!

How was it working with acting legends like Sylvester Stallone and Robert De Niro?

How was it? IT SUCKED! No, it was fun, man! Fun because I got to be in the presence of great company, guys who are very much accomplished and who are Oscar Award winners, just to say that I was able to do a project with them in my career is a big deal, let alone now call them my friends is definitely a big deal.

Can you speak about your preparation for “Grudge Match”?

You know, I wish I had a bunch of preparation, I’m not a thespian, though, I’m just a dude that shows up and know my lines. I youtubed Don King a couple of times just to get some of his cadences down, just from him talking fast and just to see his style when it came to promoting and you know just tried to adapt some of the that, but not go with the rhyming element as much and I brought what I thought was funny to the table and they liked it.

Can you speak about working with Director Peter Segal?

Pete Segal is a funny guy, man! He’s funny, down to earth and he has a relaxed environment when he’s working, which is what you want you want to work with directors that aren’t high strung and manic and crazy. Pete has definitely been around the block a few times, he knows comedy, he knows how to direct comedy and in this particular case, he did a great job of it and he had a bunch of personalities to work with from Sylvester Stallone to Robert De Niro to Alan Arkin to Kim Basinger to myself, but he did a good job of managing it all well and I think he got the best result within the work.

Did you get to do a lot of improv on set?

I got to do a lot of improv in the film, being that I worked with a great director and not only a great director but a great cast, a great group of people, they put me in a position to win. So improv-ing is definitely my strong point. I love it.

Are there any scenes that got cut, that you wish had made it?

No, not to my knowledge. I think they kept all my stuff which is good. That’s a good sign.

*SPOILER*

Tell me about that scene with Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson.

Oh that was a scary scene. It was probably one of the first times that those guys actually got together after the incident. So them throwing me in a room and just saying, “Kevin Hart, they’re fine, go,” it was definitely intimidating, but they were fine. They were cool. They were cordial and I was happy I got to say that I saw them as friends after the incident, so it was good for me.

What are your holiday plans?

Holiday season! I’m going to spend Christmas at my house and then I’m going to go to Anguilla with my girlfriend, chill out for a couple of days, take some days off…that’s my holiday kids first, then some adult time! Have a bunch of sex!

 

JC Routh contributed reporting.