EXCLUSIVE: The Martin solid reunion was a giant spotlight of the January 2024 Emmy Awards, underlining the lasting reputation of the Nineties sitcom. A yr later, the present is getting a franchise extension with Varnell Hill, a derivative collection greenlighted by BET+. It’s headlined by actor-comedian Tommy Davidson because the titular Varnell Hill, reprising the beloved character he performed as a visitor star on Martin.
Varnell Hill is co-created and govt produced by Martin co-creator, star and govt producer Martin Lawrence and Martin govt producer/showrunner Bentley Evans, with Jesse Collins additionally govt producing. There isn’t a affirmation of Lawrence showing on the present however I hear he’s poised to reprise his Martin Payne position in a number of episodes.
The announcement comes on the thirty fifth anniversary of In Residing Coloration, on which Davidson was an authentic solid member.
Varnell Hill, which has acquired an eight-episode straight-to-series order, is a office comedy set behind the scenes of the long-running late-night speak present, The Varnell Hill Present. Delving into the chaotic world of tv manufacturing, the collection explores Varnell’s journey to stay related in an ever-evolving business and the company dynamics of community executives, enterprise stakeholders, and artistic groups concerned within the making of the present.
A mix of satire, humor, cutaways, and fourth-wall breaks, Varnell Hill will function a mix of thrilling new characters and celeb visitor cameos.
Jessie Collins and Bentley Kyle Evans
Paul Zimmerman/Penske Media through Getty Photographs
Evans, who wrote the pilot for Varnell Hill and can direct, serves as showrunner. He’ll govt produce through his Bentley Evans Productions alongside Martin Lawrence, Stacy Lyles and Robert Lawrence of Runteldat Leisure and Jessie Collins, Dionne Harmon, Andy Horne and Rae Proctor. The collection can be produced by Evans and his manufacturing crew.
Whereas Davidson solely appeared on one two-part episode in Season 2 of Martin, his speak present character Varnell Hill has achieved a cult standing amongst followers of the Fox sitcom. A up to date of Lawrence’s Martin Payne, Varnell flaunts his success to Martin throughout a go to to the latter’s native radio present, prompting Martin to journey to Los Angeles and crash Varnell’s nationwide speak present for a shot at stardom. This is identical speak present that may now be the setting for the spinoff.
It’s Varnell and Martin’s scene within the studio on the WZUP radio station, during which Varnell breaks right into a music, that has grow to be a popular culture staple, a second Davidson and Lawrence recreated a few years in the past when the previous appeared in character as Varnell on Lawrence’s YouTube cooking present.
“Did you miss me? Properly, now you don’t should! I’m excited and honored to be part of such a artistic challenge with the good thoughts of Martin Lawrence, over 30 years within the making,” Davidson mentioned. “Followers have requested it and now it’s coming to BET+!”
Martin, which starred Lawrence, Tisha Campbell, Tichina Arnold, Thomas Mikal Ford, and Carl Anthony Payne, premiered in 1992 and ran on Fox for 5 seasons
As well as his work on Martin, Evans was the co-creator, govt producer and showrunner on The Jamie Foxx Present and govt producer, showrunner and director on Foxx’s Netflix collection Dad Cease Embarrassing Me. He has within the works Solely In America with Foxx and Buck Wonders with Eddie Murphy.
Evans is repped by Zero Gravity Administration. Lawrence is repped by UTA, Artists First and Gang Rymer. Davidson, who has a preferred recurring position on one other BET+ comedy collection, The Ms. Pat Present, is repped by Revolutionary Artists.
