Justin Hires will be the new face of Detective Carter from the Rush Hour franchise, taking on Chris Tucker’s classic character in the television show spin off of the movie.
Premiering on March 31, the series will continue the story of Carter and Detective Lee as they solve crimes in L.A, combining drama and humor.
Hires, a comedian in his own right and recurring guest on Key & Peele, plans to take on the character of Detective Carter and make it his own.
We talked with the fresh comedic face about what we can expect from him and the show in 2016.
How does the show relate to the movie? What are some differences?
The pilot episode is essentially a reboot of the first Rush Hour film. However, every episode after that (13 episodes in total) are completely new and exciting stories that are not related to the movie franchise.
What drew you to the role? Were you a fan of the franchise?
Not only am I a comedian, but it just so happens I’m a first degree black belt. Being able to be a part of a one hour action/comedy that combines humor and martial arts seemed like a dream job for me. I was and still am a huge fan of the Rush Hour films, so the guy taking over for Chris Tucker better not mess it up [laughs].
What draws you to comedy?
I just love making people laugh. Life can be hard at times, so being able to put a smile on someone’s face brings me a lot of joy.
What’s the most challenging thing about comedy to you that you think others have no idea about?
I think the most challenging thing about stand-up comedy is developing an hour worth of material that is not only classic and hilarious, but completely original. Kevin Hart gave me great advice when I was starting out, which was, “Talk about yourself.” It’s the funniest material and the best way to ensure you’re not saying jokes that other comedians are already doing. It takes about 10 years to have a solid hour of material worth recording and showing to the public. I’ve been doing stand-up for a strong 8 ½ years now, so you won’t see a comedy special from me for a couple of more years.
Given your background in radio and entertainment, do you think you’ll do more radio hosting or being an entertainment personality?
My concentration at Clark Atlanta University was actually radio. If I wasn’t doing acting and stand-up I would definitely be hosting a morning radio show somewhere. So yeah, that’s something that still interests me and maybe further down the line in my career that may be something I pursue.
Do you plan on expanding your brand into hopefully owning a production company and producing?
Having my own production company is definitely a goal of mine. I want to create television and film content, representing the African-American and urban communities, but make the themes universal so everyone, no matter of race, will want to watch and support these projects. Like I tell my acting friends, “If you ain’t creating, you waiting.”
