Kevin Hart is taking his storytelling to new animated heights with “Lil Kev,” an grownup cartoon sequence based mostly on his adolescent years.
The comedian revealed the challenge in an Instagram put up on Jan. 27. He promised the BET+ sequence will “combine ’90s Philly, a younger me with a wild creativeness” and “chaos, nonstop laughs, and pure comedy gold!”
The express comedy will debut within the spring, however followers are already drawing comparisons to work from his good friend and mentor Chris Rock.
Hart has enlisted a number of acquainted voices to carry the humorous, too.
“With comedy veterans Wanda [Sykes] and Deon [Cole] alongside me, we’re bringing Lil Kev to life—a hilarious celebration of tales impressed by my Philly roots, a spot that may all the time be dwelling to me,” Hart instructed Deadline.
The approaching-of-age present focuses on the 12-year-old model of the comic. Sykes performs his mom Nancy, and Cole performs his Uncle Richard Jr. “Shock voices” of further characters are being saved below wraps, however these already introduced have been staples all through his comedy profession.
The art work shared with followers exhibits the cartoon Lil Kev, his mischievous older brother Robert, mother, the previously incarcerated uncle, and his dad Henry on the street exterior of his Philadelphia dwelling.
Greater than 36,000 folks appreciated the put up inside an hour of its add, and a whole bunch extra left feedback. His most loyal followers had been equally as excited concerning the upcoming present.
“YOU A LIVING LEGEND,” a follower gushed. A second supporter commented, “Gonna watch this purely for Unlce Richard Jr.. ‘Peel his muffin cap again blue’ IYKYK,” referencing a joke from “Giggle at My Ache.”
Hmmmm pic.twitter.com/OlxCZLX3XB
— LITTY🔥LOHAN (@LITTYLOHAN) January 27, 2025
Reactions to the information took a detour when different customers observed that Hart was following a well-recognized sitcom blueprint.
“So like, it’s an ‘Everyone Hates Chris!’ ripoff? Not hating, simply acquired a sense,” learn one remark. Hart’s longtime good friend Rock created the semi-autobiographical sequence “Everyone Hates Chris.”
It was set in Nineteen Eighties Brooklyn, starting when the comedian was 13 years previous. Very like “Lil Kev,” the comedy was anchored round Chris’ household life—his mother, dad, sister, and brother—and the mishaps of rising up.
The animated revival, “Everyone Nonetheless Hates Chris,” wrapped its first season on Comedy Central in 2024. Hart’s very comparable challenge left a foul style within the mouths of Rock’s followers. “Chris rock can’t have s—t I see,” a critic harshly said.
One other comparability learn, “That is too much like lil’ invoice. Please don’t be the subsequent Cosby, Kevin hart.”
Even the art work was all too acquainted for some who had been reminded of Invoice Cosby’s Seventies cartoon “The Adventures of Fats Albert and the Cosby Youngsters.”
. @KattWilliams on @KevinHart4real
“For a 5 12 months interval, each single film that Kevin Hart did was a film that had been on my desk.” pic.twitter.com/mQTl5f46WX
— Membership Shay Shay (@ClubShayShay) January 3, 2024
And, after all, there have been those that merely weren’t impressed. A hater typed that it was “One other flop.” Whereas one other particular person said, “If he simply narrates and doesn’t voice himself it has potential, however figuring out Kevin he prolly gonna voice himself.”
However regardless many are nonetheless planning to tune in, writing, “So an animated all people hates Chris, however wit Kevin hart lol nonetheless gonna watch.”
Hart has beforehand executed voice work for animated movies “Pets,” “Pets 2,” “DC League of Tremendous-Pets,” and “Captain Underpants.”
His new appearing endeavor is being produced partially by Hartbeat, the entertainer’s manufacturing firm. The comedic rock star just lately stepped as much as take over CEO duties amid layoffs and high-profile government departures.