Meet the Cast of Varnell Hill: A New Comedy Series Expanding the Martin Universe
The Martin universe is expanding with the addition of a new comedy series. Kym Whitley has joined the cast of BET+'s upcoming spinoff Varnell Hill, which stars Tommy Davidson. The show follows Varnell Hill, a character from Martin, as he navigates life as the host of his own late-night talk show. Varnell faces the challenges of staying relevant in the ever-changing television industry while dealing with network executives, stakeholders, and creative teams behind the scenes.
Whitley will play Kim Jones, Varnell's loyal assistant, who serves as his emotional bodyguard and professional fixer. She is described as the unofficial executive producer who keeps Varnell's empire running smoothly. Martin Lawrence will also make appearances in multiple episodes, reprising his role as Martin Payne.
The series is co-created and executive produced by Lawrence and Bentley Evans, who was the showrunner on the original Martin series. Evans wrote the pilot for Varnell Hill, will direct, and run the show. Other executive producers include Stacy Lyles, Robert Lawrence, Rae Proctor, Jesse Collins, Andy Horne, and Dionne Harmon.
With Davidson as Varnell, Whitley in a significant role, and Lawrence returning to his iconic character, Varnell Hill promises to be a must-watch continuation of the Martin legacy.