Varnell Hill: Neil Brown Jr. boards BET+’s Martin spinoff series

BET+ is moving forward with Varnell Hill, a spinoff of the 1990s sitcom Martin, with Neil Brown Jr. joining the recurring cast. Deadline first reported the news on September 16, 2025. Brown Jr., best known for his seven-season run on CBS’s SEAL Team and his role on HBO’s Insecure, will play Thad Metcalf, a former SNL writer described as whip-smart, overly literal, and socially awkward.

His character is the type who mentions The Harvard Lampoon within minutes of meeting someone, convinced that others will be impressed by his background.

The new series, headlined by Tommy Davidson as Varnell Hill and Kym Whitley as longtime assistant Kim Jones, is an eight-episode workplace comedy. It takes place behind the scenes of The Varnell Hill Show, a fictional late-night program. Production has already started in Los Angeles, with Martin Lawrence confirmed to appear as Martin Payne in multiple episodes.

Co-created by Lawrence and Martin executive producer Bentley Evans, who also wrote and directed the pilot, the spinoff blends satire, humor, and fourth-wall breaks. Evans will serve as showrunner, with additional producers including Stacy Lyles, Robert Lawrence, Rae Proctor, Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon, and Andy Horne.

Neil Brown Jr. joins BET+ comedy spinoff Varnell Hill

The Martin spinoff, Varnell Hill, is designed as an inside look at how television is made, using comedy to highlight the chaos of late-night programming. The show’s structure places its story behind the curtain of The Varnell Hill Show, with Tommy Davidson returning to play the eccentric talk show host.

This setup gives BET+ the chance to explore the workplace culture of writers, producers, and executives who are tasked with keeping a long-running program alive while its star wrestles with staying relevant. The series leans into satire, using cutaways and fourth-wall breaks to constantly remind viewers that it’s fully aware of television’s own quirks and shortcomings.

Varnell Hill first appeared in a two-part storyline during the second season of Martin. Even though he was only featured briefly, fans remembered the character as one of the most outrageous personalities to cross paths with Martin Payne.

That popularity eventually led to the creation of this spinoff, which not only revisits the character decades later but expands his world with new supporting players and modern industry pressures. Davidson’s return is central, but the addition of actors like Kym Whitley gives the show a foundation to balance Varnell’s antics with grounded characters who manage the fallout.

Production began in Los Angeles earlier this year, with Martin Lawrence returning both on-screen and behind the camera. His presence connects the new series directly to the legacy of Martin, which aired on Fox for five seasons between 1992 and 1997 and remains one of the defining sitcoms of the decade.

Lawrence’s Martin Payne will make appearances throughout the season, but the spotlight will remain on Varnell Hill’s attempt to maintain his talk show under constant scrutiny.

The creative team is led by Bentley Evans, who served as executive producer and showrunner during the original Martin run. Evans not only co-created Varnell Hill with Lawrence but also wrote the pilot and will direct episodes.

The producing slate includes Stacy Lyles, Robert Lawrence, Rae Proctor through Runteldat Entertainment, and Jesse Collins Entertainment, with Dionne Harmon and Andy Horne attached. Their combined roles ensure that the spinoff has both continuity from the original series and input from producers with experience handling contemporary television comedy.

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