Kevin Hart has officially inked a film deal with streaming giant Netflix.
The comedian-turned-actor-turned-producer inked a first-look film production deal with the streamer under his HartBeat Productions banner, and is kicking off the new partnership with four Netflix-exclusive films which he will star in and produce, Shadow and Act reports.
Hart expressed his excitement for the new deal in a statement, stating that “partnering with Netflix is an amazing opportunity for HartBeat and myself.”
“I am excited to act in and produce cutting edge films with Netflix. I am extremely grateful to Ted Sarandos and Scott Stuber, we share the same creative vision and always put the audience first,” he continued. “This business is about growth and my HartBeat team continues to exceed my expectations with their ability to develop stories and relationships. Our goal is to make the HartBeat name synonymous with first-class entertainment and narratives.”
Scott Stuber — head of original films at Netflix — echoed Hart’s sentiments about the genius partnership, calling him one of the “few artists who can attract audiences of all ages.”
“Netflix has enjoyed a long relationship with Kevin and we’ve been lucky enough to partner with him many times,” Stuber said in a statement. “He’s a hands-on producer and it’s been great to watch him build an incredible company with HartBeat. There are very few artists who can attract audiences of all ages and succeed in making comedies, dramas and family films. We’re excited to partner with Kevin, and his great team at Hartbeat, to entertain our audience for years to come.”
According to Variety, Hart has previously worked with Netflix over the last few years to debut his comedy specials, including his latest “Zero F*cks Given.”
Beyond stand-up comedy, Hart has proven to be a consistent hit at the Box Office, raking in over $4 billion in worldwide ticket sales for films like “Jumanji,” “The Upside,” and “Central Intelligence.”
Deadline shared a quote from HartBeat President Bryan Smiley, saying, “I am beyond thrilled about this exciting new chapter in our company’s history. Kevin and I are committed to making ‘best in class’ films with our new partners at Netflix. This groundbreaking deal guarantees HartBeat productions will be viewed by millions of people globally, for many years to come.”
This is a major moment for both Hart and Netflix. According to Deadline, the last time the streamer made this big of a film commitment with a comic star, it renewed a deal with Adam Sandler that was said to be in the $150 million ballpark.
