“Martin” prequel drama series based on works by Martin Lawrence

Jeff Katz /TV Guide/courtesy of Everett Collection/Michael Letterlough, Jr./courtesy

EXCLUSIVE: The Martin The cast reunion was a highlight of this year’s Emmy Awards, capitalizing on nostalgia to bring the ’90s sitcom back into pop culture. The beloved comedy is now looking for a more permanent return with The young Martina new one-hour drama series from Martin Lawrence and his production company RunTelDat in association with Marvin Peart’s WonderHill Studios.

The one-hour The young Martin is a contemporary origin story that revolves around Martin Payne, a charismatic teenager navigating the complexities of the transition from adolescence to adulthood. It interprets the character Lawrence created in Martina tribute to the original show that aired on Fox from 1992 to 1997.

The young MartinThe dramatic inclination is similar to the route of another typical sitcom of the 1990s, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, with Lawrence’s Bad Boys Co-lead actor Will Smith took part Bel Air, Smith was the executive producer.

Executive production The young Martin are Lawrence, Rae Proctor, Robert Lawrence and Stacy Lyles of RunTelDat, with Bob Yari, David McPherson, Rosa Peart and Greg Martin of WonderHill Studios. (Yari and Peart, who originally launched WonderHill together, continue to collaborate on outstanding projects including The young Martinafter we separated several months ago.)

Located in what is now Detroit, The young Martin follows Martin Payne, a spirited teenager whose journey through life is marked by ambition, humor and genuine compassion for those around him. The show tackles themes of family, friendship and life as young Payne walks the fine line between adolescence and adulthood. Martin’s quick wit and magnetic personality draw him into high stakes situations where he must face obstacles and emotions and ultimately find his way to success.

The young Martin marks WonderHill Studios’ first TV project and is part of the company’s commitment to cultural authenticity.

“Of all the hit shows of the 90s, there was only one Martin – a show that defined culture and positivity. Martin “I reflected a real group of friends from our community who were seen on television screens around the world,” said Marvin Peart, CEO of WonderHill. “I respected and admired Martin Lawrence for creating Martin Payne and what he did for African Americans on television in front of and behind the camera. In many ways, he influenced my path in the entertainment industry and I am honored to work with Martin and his younger self and share him with the next generation of fans.”

During the five seasons Martinwhich Lawrence co-created with John Bowman and Topper Carew, received People’s Choice and NAACP Image Awards. The series’ comeback began in 2022 with a highly rated 30-year reunion special on BET+, featuring Snoop Dogg and Bryan McKnight. It continued at the recent 75th Emmy Awards, where Martin was honored alongside other groundbreaking TV series, including All in the Family, Cheers, The Sopranos, Ally McBeal, Grey’s Anatomy, And game of Thrones with a new staging of the set and a reunion of the cast.

Lawrence can currently be seen on the big screen again in Bad Boys: Ride or Diewhose worldwide box office gross of $361 million has pushed the long-running film series past the $1.2 billion mark to date. It is repped by IAG, Artists First and Gang, Tyre, Ramer, Brown & Passman.