Kevin Hart is stepping into animation with his new series Lil Kev, which is set to captivate audiences on BET+. This animated show transports viewers back to 1993 in Kevin Hart’s hometown of North Philadelphia, where a 12-year-old version of Hart faces the challenges of neighborhood life with a bright and hopeful attitude.
Hold up. Isn’t Everybody Hates Chris, who is being turned into an animated series? Anyway …
The show’s synopsis highlights young Kevin’s struggles: “12-year-old Kevin faces tough neighborhood life with boundless optimism. His mom works nights, his brother’s a troublemaker, his dad wants back in, and his uncle gives dubious advice – but Kev keeps hustling.”
Get this: the star-studded voice cast features some of the biggest names in comedy, including Wanda Sykes as Nancy Hart, Kevin’s mother, and Deon Cole as Uncle Richard Jr. Additionally, the series will feature voice acting legends like Cree Summer, Affion Crockett, Jamar Neighbors, Jess Hilarious, and “Ms. Pat” Williams, making for a lineup sure to deliver endless laughs.
In an interview with BET, Hart shared his excitement about bringing this project to life after years of effort. “Now was the right time to do it because it finally came to life. I’ve been trying to develop it for the longest. And any opportunity that I can tell my story, I jump to it. When I have an opportunity to be creative and do it from the times of old, it’s exciting to me,” Hart said. “Recreating those moments or repurposing them for the [greater good] for people to see, relate to, and understand is great to me… I can go and get raw, but give you a reason to laugh through the animation and delivery.”
What’s more, Wanda Sykes, who voices Kevin’s mom Nancy, shared her enthusiasm for the series. “It was very well written. I just got who she was. And the big thing is… I got to yell at Kevin,” Sykes said with a laugh. “I just loved that. I would skip to work. And I praise God that I got this part where I just get into him. Just yell at him. It’s beautiful.”