EXCLUSIVE: Kevin Hart and Wesley Snipes are teaming up to headline True Story, a Netflix limited series written and executive produced by Narcos: Mexico executive producer Eric Newman and produced by Hart’s HartBeat Production.
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Eric NewmanCourtesy of Netflix
This marks the TV drama debut for Hart who also executive produces the eight-episode series.
Philadelphia-born comedian Hart will play a version of himself in the fictional True Story, which centers on his character Kid and Kid’s older brother Carlton, played by Snipes.
A tour stop in Kid’s hometown of Philadelphia becomes a matter of life and death for one of the world’s most famous comedians when the consequences of a lost evening with his wayward older brother threaten to destroy everything he’s built.
Hart grew up in Philadelphia with an older brother who was in and out of jail and made his standup debut in his hometown before moving away.
“I’ve never been more excited about an acting project in my career,” Hart said. “I’ve always been a fan of Wesley Snipes and working with him is mind-blowing. Having HartBeat Productions at the helm and working alongside Eric Newman as a partner and creative arm has been unreal, nobody is ready for what this show is going to be.”
Hart executive produces through his HartBeat Prods., Newman via his Grand Electric. Charles Murray (Luke Cage, Sons of Anarchy) also executive produces and serves as showrunner. Caroline Currier oversees for Grand Electric; Mike Stein and Tiffany Brown oversee for HartBeat Prods.
Stephen Williams (Watchmen, Lost) will direct and executive produce the first four episodes. Hanelle Culpepper (Star Trek Picard, Kung Fu) will direct the final four episodes.
“Kevin Hart’s career is one defined by courageous creative risks and Wesley Snipes is a legendary talent – together they are truly a dream team,” Newman said. “I am absolutely thrilled to be working with these two. As always, I am grateful to Netflix for their continued support, as well as to Charles Murray, Stephen Williams, and Hanelle Culpepper for their creative partnership.”
Newman, one of the top producers on Netflix’s talent roster, recently re-started his Grand Electric banner with a new overall deal for film and TV at the streamer, where he has been for more than eight years, the last six as executive producer and showrunner of Narcos and its successor Narcos: Mexico. Newman originated the hugely successful Narcos franchise, which he brought to Netflix in 2014. Newman recently stepped down as showrunner of Narcos: Mexico to focus on his growing Netflix slate but remains an executive producer on the drug trade drama. Along with True Story, Newman is shepherding Netflix’s upcoming opioid TV drama Painkiller, directed by Pete Berg with Alex Gibney as producer. He previously worked on Netflix horror drama series Hemlock Grove, as well as multiple films, including global hit Bright through his producing partnership with Bryan Unkeless.
Newman is now in production on his third Netflix film, Escape From Spiderhead starring Chris Hemsworth and Miles Teller directed by Joseph Kosinski, and in pre-production on The Upper World starring Daniel Kaluuya. Newman is also producing the recently announced action-adventure saga Water Margin, directed by Shinsuke Sato. Newman is Repped by CAA.
Founded by Hart, HartBeat Productions currently has a First-Look deal with Universal Studios to produce Feature Films. Their first production together, Night School, had the highest grossing opening weekend for a comedy in 2018 and spawned a TV adaptation at NBC. Other HartBeat projects include FXX’s Dave, whose first season became the most watched for an FX comedy series. It has been picked up for second season. The company’s portfolio include two standup-themed recent programs for Comedy Central, The Next Level and Hart of the City, Netflix comedy specials “Zero F**ks Given, headlined by Hart, and London Hughes’ Catch a D**k, as well as Celebrity Game Face on E!, which returned Dec. 1 with new episodes.
Hart ventured in dramatic acting territory with the 2017 film The Upside. His recent feature acting credits include Jumanji: The Next level and Hobbs & Shaw. Hart will next be seen in Fatherhood and The Man From Toronto. He is repped by 3 Arts Entertainment, UTA & and Schreck Rose Dapello.
Blade star Snipes was recently seen in the Netflix movie Dolemite Is My Name. He next co-stars in Coming To America 2. Snipes is repped by CAA.
Your Complete Guide to Pilots and Straight-to-Series orders
SEE ALL
Eric NewmanCourtesy of Netflix
This marks the TV drama debut for Hart who also executive produces the eight-episode series.
Philadelphia-born comedian Hart will play a version of himself in the fictional True Story, which centers on his character Kid and Kid’s older brother Carlton, played by Snipes.
A tour stop in Kid’s hometown of Philadelphia becomes a matter of life and death for one of the world’s most famous comedians when the consequences of a lost evening with his wayward older brother threaten to destroy everything he’s built.
Hart grew up in Philadelphia with an older brother who was in and out of jail and made his standup debut in his hometown before moving away.
“I’ve never been more excited about an acting project in my career,” Hart said. “I’ve always been a fan of Wesley Snipes and working with him is mind-blowing. Having HartBeat Productions at the helm and working alongside Eric Newman as a partner and creative arm has been unreal, nobody is ready for what this show is going to be.”
Hart executive produces through his HartBeat Prods., Newman via his Grand Electric. Charles Murray (Luke Cage, Sons of Anarchy) also executive produces and serves as showrunner. Caroline Currier oversees for Grand Electric; Mike Stein and Tiffany Brown oversee for HartBeat Prods.
Stephen Williams (Watchmen, Lost) will direct and executive produce the first four episodes. Hanelle Culpepper (Star Trek Picard, Kung Fu) will direct the final four episodes.
“Kevin Hart’s career is one defined by courageous creative risks and Wesley Snipes is a legendary talent – together they are truly a dream team,” Newman said. “I am absolutely thrilled to be working with these two. As always, I am grateful to Netflix for their continued support, as well as to Charles Murray, Stephen Williams, and Hanelle Culpepper for their creative partnership.”
Newman, one of the top producers on Netflix’s talent roster, recently re-started his Grand Electric banner with a new overall deal for film and TV at the streamer, where he has been for more than eight years, the last six as executive producer and showrunner of Narcos and its successor Narcos: Mexico. Newman originated the hugely successful Narcos franchise, which he brought to Netflix in 2014. Newman recently stepped down as showrunner of Narcos: Mexico to focus on his growing Netflix slate but remains an executive producer on the drug trade drama. Along with True Story, Newman is shepherding Netflix’s upcoming opioid TV drama Painkiller, directed by Pete Berg with Alex Gibney as producer. He previously worked on Netflix horror drama series Hemlock Grove, as well as multiple films, including global hit Bright through his producing partnership with Bryan Unkeless.
Newman is now in production on his third Netflix film, Escape From Spiderhead starring Chris Hemsworth and Miles Teller directed by Joseph Kosinski, and in pre-production on The Upper World starring Daniel Kaluuya. Newman is also producing the recently announced action-adventure saga Water Margin, directed by Shinsuke Sato. Newman is Repped by CAA.
Founded by Hart, HartBeat Productions currently has a First-Look deal with Universal Studios to produce Feature Films. Their first production together, Night School, had the highest grossing opening weekend for a comedy in 2018 and spawned a TV adaptation at NBC. Other HartBeat projects include FXX’s Dave, whose first season became the most watched for an FX comedy series. It has been picked up for second season. The company’s portfolio include two standup-themed recent programs for Comedy Central, The Next Level and Hart of the City, Netflix comedy specials “Zero F**ks Given, headlined by Hart, and London Hughes’ Catch a D**k, as well as Celebrity Game Face on E!, which returned Dec. 1 with new episodes.
Hart ventured in dramatic acting territory with the 2017 film The Upside. His recent feature acting credits include Jumanji: The Next level and Hobbs & Shaw. Hart will next be seen in Fatherhood and The Man From Toronto. He is repped by 3 Arts Entertainment, UTA & and Schreck Rose Dapello.
Blade star Snipes was recently seen in the Netflix movie Dolemite Is My Name. He next co-stars in Coming To America 2. Snipes is repped by CAA.
