Martin Lawrence Announces Upcoming “Martin” Revival, But with a Small Twist
It’s been almost 30 years since the beloved sitcom “Martin” closed its doors on the show, and after months of speculation it seems that a revival is now in the works, though with a slightly different take on the story of Martin Payne. Just over a week ago, Martin Lawrence announced his plans to dive back into the world of “Martin,” revealing his intent to explore an origin story for the character, set in the modern day and with a dramatic lens, in a similar vein to the recent re-imagined version of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”
In 2022, following the 30th anniversary of the beginning of the original series, there were some theories about a possible “Martin” revival, and BET+ hosted a 30th reunion special where former cast members came together to reminisce on the “Martin” years. More recently, during this year’s 75th Emmy Awards in January, several of the “Martin” original cast members gathered for an on-stage reunion, hinting at a possible re-adaptation of the highly treasured show.
Martin Lawrence has had a wildly productive year, which makes the timing of this reveal all the more fitting. Fresh off the success of the fourth installment in the “Bad Boys” franchise, Lawrence hopes to continue his Hollywood momentum, disclosing plans to tackle a prequel project for the hit TV show “Martin.” Since it’s still early in the pre-production phase of the upcoming show (tentatively titled “Young Martin”), many details surrounding its development are currently tightly under wraps – however, some information has been made public.
The new series, though still focusing on Martin Payne, is taking a slightly modified approach to his story. Instead of continuing as a sitcom, the show will take a more dramatic route (though with Martin Lawrence involved there will surely be comedic aspects too) with hour-long episodes exploring Martin’s transition from adolescence to adulthood. Secondly, rather than taking place in the 90s when Martin Payne would’ve been growing up, the series will be set in present-day Detroit.
Lawrence’s inspiration for “Young Martin” likely came from his “Bad Boys” co-star, as Will Smith also recently adapted his own iconic TV show from the 90s into a modernized drama series with the Peacock-exclusive “Bel-Air.” The success of “Bel-Air” has been huge, with a third season already in motion. If Lawrence really is taking a page out of Will Smith’s book, then, with the right approach, “Young Martin” could prove to achieve equal, if not more, success to that of the “Bel-Air” drama.
As of this moment, there’s no set release date for “Young Martin,” and many of the details surrounding production, including who will be in the cast, remain uncertain. With luck, we can expect the new series to be available sometime next year, and hopefully it’s able to live up to the sensation of the original.
