1990s sitcom hit Martin is about to get a second spinoff.
On Tuesday (April 15), Deadline broke the news that BET+ is developing Varnell Hill, starring Tommy Davidson reprising his title role nearly three decades after Martin wrapped in 1997.
While there’s no confirmation yet if Lawrence will make a guest appearance on Varnell Hill, the comedian-actor is on board as executive producer. Last July, a Young Martin reboot was announced, focusing on Martin Payne’s childhood in Detroit.
With an eight-episode direct-to-series order, Varnell Hill will be a workplace comedy set behind the scenes of Hill’s late-night talk show. Though Hill only showed up in a two-part episode of Martin, he became a fan favorite when Payne crashed his talk show trying to jump from radio to television.
“Did you miss me? Well, now you don’t have to! I’m excited and honored to be a part of such a creative project with the brilliant mind of Martin Lawrence, over 30 years in the making,” Davidson said in a statement about Varnell Hill. “Fans have requested it, and now it’s coming to BET+.”
Earlier this year on Baltimore radio show 92Q Jams, Davidson revealed how the Hill character came about – he improvised it after seeing Lawrence being “mean” to the Martin crew.
