BET+ Debuted First-Ever Original Animated Series With Kevin Hart
March 6th, Lil Kev, BET+’s first original adult animated series created by Kevin Hart officially premiered. Produced by Hartbeat—Hart’s global entertainment company—the half-hour comedy brings Hart’s childhood in North Philadelphia to life with humor, heart, and a sharp edge.
Set in 1993 Philly: Childhood Meets Comedy
The series follows 12-year-old Kevin Hart as he navigates life in 1993 North Philadelphia. With a wild imagination and relentless optimism, young Kev constantly clashes with the rough realities of his neighborhood, making for a funny and heartfelt coming-of-age story.
Wanda Sykes voices Kevin’s tough, no-nonsense mother, Nancy—a God-fearing ER nurse working night shifts while trying to keep her kids in line. Deon Cole plays Uncle Richard Jr., Nancy’s younger brother who’s recently out of prison and full of misguided hustle. Cree Summer joins the cast as Gerald, Kevin’s best friend, with more celebrity voice cameos appearing throughout the season.
A Personal Story Told Through Comedy
“Lil Kev is a hilarious celebration of stories inspired by my Philly roots, a place that will always be home to me,” said Hart. The show mixes Hart’s signature unfiltered humor with real-life moments drawn from his childhood memories. “As an adult, looking back on those times and just kind of going down memory lane… how funny would this be if I could tell it through this lens?”
Sykes said she was immediately in. “It was a quick yes for me,” she said. “I thought the writing was brilliant. It just has so much heart and was just a love letter from Kevin to his city, to his family, his upbringing.”
She added, jokingly, “I get to yell at Kevin all the time. That’s it.”
Hart said there was never another choice for the role of his mom. “No other options, I say that with my hand on the Bible… It was all Wanda all the time.”
BET+ Celebrates a Milestone Series
“Lil Kev marks an exciting milestone for BET+ as we continue to expand our content portfolio with bold, fresh, and culturally resonant storytelling,” said BET Media Group CEO Scott Mills.
Jason Harvey, EVP of Strategy and Operations at BET+, called the project a perfect fit from the start. “With its dynamic cast and authentic narrative, the series perfectly represents the multifaceted experiences of our diverse audience.”
Now Streaming on BET+
The series may be animated, but it hits close to home. “Little Kevin’s very much me when I was a child,” Hart said. “The looking up, the reactions, the ‘Huh?’—that stuff is extremely funny when it comes to life.”
Lil Kev is now streaming on BET+.
