Martin Lawrence is bringing back a fan-favorite role from his career in the trailer for The Varnell Hill Show. Paramount+ dropped the trailer on YouTube on August 25, 2026. The comedy series will premiere on September 1, 2026.
Martin Lawrence appeared as the titular lead Martin Payne almost thirty years ago in the 1990s sitcom Martin. Now, after almost three long decades, Lawrence is reprising his role as Martin in the upcoming spin-off series. The 1-minute 40-second trailer begins with the entrance of Varnell Hill. Lawrence marks his appearance in the trailer as Martin Payne, who is having a hilarious conversation with Varnell Hill, played by Tommy Davidson.
Check out the trailer:
The trailer reveals that Hill is in conversation with Rachel Perkins, Hill’s new executive producer. When Perkins praises Hill, saying, “You’re a true icon”, Hill immediately replies, “Flattery will get you everywhere.” But when the executive producer criticized his show, saying, “Your show is built in the past, and your ratings are down”, Hill revolted, stating, “I built this empire, and I will burn it down before I let you turn it into some TikTok tonight.”
Tommy Davidson returns as Varnell Hill in Martin spinoff
Tommy Davidson is coming back as Varnell Hill in the upcoming Paramount+ series. Returning after almost thirty years, Davidson’s character wants to prove that Varnell Hill continues to remain the main attraction of the show. The narrative will delve into how Hill tries to remain relevant in the dynamic entertainment industry.
The cast of the spin-off comedy show also features Kym Whitley, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Nick Cafero, Emmanuel Hudson, and Chris Williams. Ms. Pat, Deon Cole, Damon Wayans, Mike Epps, Omarion, and other stars will have guest appearances in the show.
The logline of The Varnell Hill Show reads, “Nearly three decades after audiences first met him, Varnell Hill is stepping back into the spotlight — and he’s determined to prove he’s still the star of the show. Set behind the scenes of a long-running late-night talk show, The Varnell Hill Show follows Varnell (Davidson) as he fights to stay relevant in a rapidly changing entertainment landscape. Between network executives eager to modernize the show, a chaotic writers’ room, celebrity guests, family drama, and his own outsized ego, Varnell quickly discovers that keeping a television empire together may be harder than building one in the first place.”
Bentley Kyle Evans is the director, writer, and showrunner of The Varnell Hill Show. Martin Lawrence is producing the show. Alongside him, the BET Studios project is produced by Davidson, Jesse Collins, and Dionne Harmon for Jesse Collins Entertainment; Stacy Lyles, Rae Proctor, and Robert Lawrence for Runteldat Entertainment; and Mark Greenberg, Andrew Horne, and Evans for Harvest Studios.
