BET+ and Hartbeat present “LIL KEV,” the first original adult animated series for BET+.
Launches March 6th and today, the trailer was revealed!
Created from the mind of actor, stand-up comedian, and executive producer, Kevin Hart, “LIL KEV” is set to premiere in the Spring of 2025.
Wanda Sykes and Deon Cole will star alongside Kevin Hart.
Inspired by the childhood and comedy of Kevin Hart, the half-hour series set in 1993 North Philadelphia takes a humorous, satirical, and subversive approach to real-life issues Hart experienced with no-holds-barred comedy, and no words off limits.
The adult animated series “LIL KEV” follows 12-year-old Kevin Hart, whose wild imagination and unshakable optimism constantly collide with his neighborhood’s harsh realities. At the same time, his no-nonsense mother Nancy (Wanda Sykes) juggles night shifts as an E.R. nurse while waging a one-woman war to keep Kev on track – no easy feat with his mischievous older brother Robert blazing all the wrong trails, his trainwreck father Henry’s outrageous attempts to win Nancy back, and his ex-con uncle Richard Jr.’s (Deon Cole) questionable life advice.
Through it all, Lil Kev navigates his rocky upbringing with humor, hustle, and heart, surrounded by the unforgettable characters who will propel him to comedy superstardom.
Set in 1993 North Philadelphia, the adult animated series “Lil Kev” follows 12-year-old Kevin Hart, whose wild imagination and unshakable optimism constantly collide with his neighborhood’s harsh realities.
At the same time, his no-nonsense mother Nancy (Sykes) juggles night shifts as an E.R. nurse while waging a one-woman war to keep Kev on track – no easy feat with his mischievous older brother Robert (Neighbors) blazing all the wrong trails, his trainwreck father Henry’s outrageous attempts to win Nancy back, and his ex-con uncle Richard Jr.’s (Cole) questionable life advice. Through it all, Lil Kev navigates his rocky upbringing with humor, hustle, and heart, surrounded by the unforgettable characters who will propel him to comedy superstardom.
Meet The Cast
KEVIN HART as “KEV”
Young Kevin Hart is highly imaginative, small in stature, yet big in heart. Like Napoleon, instead of viewing his compact size as a disability, he uses it as a weapon. Even through all the chaos of growing up in a crime-filled inner city, with a quick-tempered mother, drug addict father, pessimistic older brother, and ex-convict uncle, Kev maintains his ultimate goal of making it BIG at something and getting his family out of the hood one day. His confidence, imagination and constant daydreaming drive him to attempt insanely lofty goals, most of which he fails at miserably…then he gets back up off the ground and tries again.WANDA SYKES as “NANCY”
Nancy Hart is the glue that holds the family together. She’s intimidating, quick to whoop ass, hardworking and God-fearing. She works tremendously hard to pay the bills and put food on the table for her family. She sometimes works double shifts at the hospital where she’s an ER nurse to make ends meet.DEON COLE as “UNCLE RICHARD JR”
Uncle Richard Jr. is Nancy’s ex-con, jail-bodied, thuggish, younger brother who lives in their basement rent-free, just as long as he agrees to walk the straight and narrow. He tries his best to stay clear of the crime scene because he respects his big sis and deep down is a little scared of her. Uncle Richard Jr. has two kids, both from different baby mommas. Richard doesn’t know their names, so he just calls them LITTLE BOY and LITTLE GIRL. When he has them around he ends up pawning them off on Kevin or Robert to babysit because he has “shit to do”.Gerald “Slink” Johnson plays “Henry” who has a troubled past tainted by addiction. Henry’s many vices have doomed his relationship with Nancy. Still, despite his many problems and underneath all the liquor, Henry is a good man with a good heart who wants to be a good dad to Kev and Robert.
Jamar Neighbors plays “Robert,” Kev’s much taller 16-year-old “glass half-empty” older brother. Kev calls him “Negative Ned” because he constantly shits all over Kevin’s dreams and covers up his shitting-overs with the catch-all excuse that he’s “just keeping it real.” Robert is a hustler who’s all about making cash money.
Cree Summer plays “Gerald,” Kev’s larger-than-life best friend known for his sharp humor and constant trash talk. He’s really good at playing the dozens because he’s been talked about so much he had to learn how to fight back.
Anjelah Johnson-Reyes plays “Marisol,” Nancy’s shady best friend and coworker at the hospital. Marisol grew up hard, and because of this, developed thick skin and street savvy. It is extremely apparent she has the hots for the city councilman, Coleman Bridges.
Patricia “Ms. Pat” Williams plays “Tiki,” a short-tempered woman who won’t let anything stand in the way of a hair appointment. She is also Dirty Dante’s mom and a gambling addict who rides the highs and lows of life at the casino. Tiki lives life on her own terms and doesn’t care what people think.
Recurring Guest Stars:
WÉ ANI as “RHE RHE”
Rhe Rhe is the object of Kevin’s affection. Rhe Rhe is super cute, super sweet, and super smart. She’s never received anything lower than an A on her report card. Her goal is to be a brain surgeon one day. She rocks dookie braids and Tim’s on the regular and puts hot sauce on everything she eats.MO COLLINS as “MRS. O’LADY”
Mrs. O’Lady is a 90-something senior who fondly remembers the neighborhood in the old days before her family abandoned her, leaving her the only white resident of the neighborhood. She’s kind but prejudiced and prone to saying outrageous things at the drop of a hat.AFFION CROCKETT as “DARNELL”
Darnell is one of Uncle Richard Jr.’s boys from prison. Omar met his cellmate Darnell, and then became lovers, though they most definitely do not fit the stereotype of gay men. Tough as nails and jail-hardened, they are struggling with life on the outside, and in their apartment down the street from the Harts, they live as if still in the joint – sleeping in bunk beds, lights out at ten, a toilet/sink – the whole deal. Richard is clueless about their “situation,” even though the “situation” is pretty obvious.TYREE ELAINE as “SAPPHIRE”
Sapphire is one of Richard’s two baby mamas and Lauryn’s mother. She is impatient and frustrated with Richard for his lack of fathering.JESS HILARIOUS as “LORETTA”
Loretta is a vivacious woman who knows how to party. She is one of Nancy’s closest friends and a local good-time girl (now, a woman). She is known by the unfortunate moniker “Loose Coochie Loretta.”KIMOY LEE as “SOUPY”
Soupy is Kevin’s other best friend. He got his nickname because he loves soup so much, he fakes being sick so his mom makes him more of it. Soupy is a bit slow-witted, really bony, and awkward-looking.JUSTIN HIRES as “CHIN CHECK”
Chin Check is Kevin’s nemesis and school bully. Chin Check robs people for sport and he chin checks fools as a form of greeting. Chin Check struggles with a learning disability and is just starting to learn how to read.RICK INGRAHAM as “LUCKY”
Lucky is a one-legged homeless man in Kev’s neighborhood. He is not the most inspiring person, but still a fixture in the neighborhood.JAYDEN LIBRAN as “OMAR”
Omar is one of Uncle Richard Jr.’s boys from prison. Omar was cellmates with Darnell, they became lovers, though they most definitely do not fit the stereotype of gay men. Tough as nails and jail-hardened, they are struggling with life on the outside, and in their apartment down the street from the Harts, they live as if still in the joint.FREDDY LOCKHART as “PRINCIPAL JOHNSON”
Freddy is Kev’s bullhorn-toting middle school principal who makes use of his bullhorn any chance he gets.AIKO TANAKA as “MRS. PARK”
Mrs. Park is the Asian lady who owns the local bodega, where Nancy does all her shopping, and Kevin and his buddies hang out and buy fruit roll-ups and X-Treme Hot Cheese Balls. Mrs. Park barks out prices and store rules to all that enter her establishment but is hardly ever seen, except through the four-inch bulletproof glass separating her from her customers. She has a shotgun that she treats like a pet, even giving it a name – “Blasty.”
UB spoke to Kevin Hart in 2013 and asked him then, how old he was when he realized he was funny? “I would say I was probably about 10 years old. I had to go to a family reunion and I did an impression of my Mom and her sisters. So I had like this big sweat suit on and I put a bunch of balloons in it and that was supposed to be their butts and chest.” Kevin went on to say; “My family was rolling and I had people on the floor and that’s when I was like “I’m a bad dude. I’m pretty damn funny. I’m gonna be the next Lenny Bruce.”
Check Out The New Trailer!
Kevin Hart, Bryan Smiley, Jeff Clanagan, Mike Stein, and Candice Wilson Cherry will executive produce for Hartbeat, the studio on the project. Hartbeat’s Tiffany Brown acts as co-executive producer. Matthew Claybrooks and Michael Price serve as both EPs and showrunners. Alex Bulkley and Corey Campodonico will also executive produce for ShadowMachine.
ShadowMachine led animation for the series, with Hartbeat funding the development and overall production. Jason Harvey and Rose Catherine Pinkney will executive produce for BET+.
UB ReVisit: Kevin Hart Talks Road to Success, Favorite Role and Dave Chappelle
