BET+ Greenlights 'Varnell Hill'

Much Better Late Than Never: BET+ Greenlights ‘Martin’ Spinoff Series ‘Varnell Hill’ Starring Tommy Davidson

Source: Michael S. Schwartz / Getty

We received big news in regards to one of the most legendary sitcoms of all-time this week. Continue reading to hear the news. This week (April 15th), BET+ announced that it has greenlit Varnell Hill, a workplace comedy series based on the beloved character from the original Martin series, which started Lawrence, Tisha Campbell, Tichina Arnold, Thomas Mikal Ford and Carl Anthony Payne. Iconic actor and comedian Tommy Davidson portrayed the character on two classic episodes of the series, and obviously left a lasting impact. Unlike his guest appearances before, Davidson is set to star in the series, reprising his hilarious role. Set behind the scenes of a long-running late-night talk show, Varnell Hill is a workplace comedy that delves into the chaotic world of television production. The series will explore Varnell’s journey to remain relevant in an ever-evolving industry and the corporate dynamics of network executives, business stakeholders and creative teams involve in the making of the show. With its blend of satire, humor, cutaways and fourth-wall breaks, the show promises to engage audiences in a fresh and innovative way. “Did you miss me?” asked Davidson in a statement. “Well, now you don’t have to! I’m excited and honored to be part of such a creative project with the brilliant mind of Martin Lawrence, over 30 years in the making. Fans have requested it and now it’s coming to BET+!” In addition to Davidson, the straight-to-series order will showcase a mixture of exciting new characters and celebrity guest cameos. One guest we hope to see is the man it all started with, Martin Lawrence, who co-created the series with Bentley Kyle Evans. Evans also wrote, directed and was the showrunner. On top of their other duties, Lawrence and Evans also served as executive producers alongside Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon, Andy Horne, Stacy Lyles, Robert Lawrence and Rae Proctor. Rise Catherine Pinkney and Jason Harvey will executive produce for BET+. Although we know Bentley Evans and his team (Harvest Studios) will produce the series, production for the new season and a premiere date will be announced at a later date. Stay tuned! Check out the social media announcements of the show from Tommy Davidson, Martin Lawrence and BET+ below. Is it too late for this? Are you still excited? Share your thoughts about the spinoff in the comment section.