Kevin Hart will portray Arnold Jackson in an upcoming ABC television special that will recreate various episodes of the classic sitcom Diff’rent Strokes and its spinoff The Facts of Life.
The 42-year-old performer is set to appear in a forthcoming episode of Live in Front of a Studio Audience, which was originally created by Jimmy Kimmel.
The actor’s role was previously filled by Gary Coleman, who became widely known for his catchphrase: ‘What you talkin’ about, Willis?’
New project: Kevin Hart will portray Arnold Jackson in an upcoming ABC television special that will recreate various episodes of the classic sitcom Diff’rent Strokes and its spinoff The Facts of Life; he is seen on Thursday evening
The special will also feature performances from numerous figures from the entertainment industry, and John Lithgow is currently set to portray Mr. Drummond, who was originally played by Conrad Bain.
Ann Dowd and Damon Wayans have signed on to play Mrs. Garrett and Willis in the forthcoming production.
The cast for the portion of the special focused on The Facts of Life is currently being brought together.
Several figures from the entertainment industry, including Kerry Washington, Will Ferrell and Justin Theroux, will serve as the project’s producers.
Featured part: The actor’s role was previously filled by Gary Coleman, who became widely known due to his work on the groundbreaking television series
Hart’s casting created a minor controversy, and one Twitter user voiced their concerns about his forthcoming portrayal of Coleman’s character.
‘Why would you hire @kevinhart4real to play a child when you could have maybe given a chance to an actual child to do something historical? 42 year old man playing a kid….what a pile of trash,’ they wrote.
Norman Lear, 99, gave a statement regarding the special, and noted via The Hollywood Reporter that he was happy to have the shows remade for modern audiences.
‘Other than with my family, there’s no place I’d rather be in my 100th year than on a soundstage at Sony with these glorious actors reliving what our company had produced all those years ago,’ he said.
Not happy: Hart’s casting created a minor controversy, and one Twitter user voiced their concerns about his forthcoming portrayal of Coleman’s character
Ecstatic: Lear, 99, gave a statement regarding the special, and noted via The Hollywood Reporter that he was happy to have the shows remade for modern audiences
ABC Entertainment president Craig Erwich expressed his excitement about the forthcoming special with a statement of his own, which was released on Thursday.
‘Jimmy and Norman have outdone themselves with a spectacular, irreverent and hilarious cast to once again create a can’t-miss television event,’ he stated.
Sony Pictures Television Studios president Jeff Frost and co-president Jason Clodfelter also released a joint statement to emphasize the producer’s legacy and impact on the entertainment industry.
‘As Norman Lear approaches his 100th birthday, what better way to celebrate him than bringing back these classic shows,’ they said.
High praise: Sony Pictures Television Studios president Jeff Frost and co-president Jason Clodfelter also released a joint statement to emphasize the producer’s legacy and impact on the entertainment industry
The shows that have been reproduced during Live in Front of a Studio Audience include All In The Family, The Jeffersons and Good Times.
The episodes all featured performances from ensemble casts, and performers such as Woody Harrelson, Viola Davis and Kevin Bacon have previously been featured in the specials.
The episodes and their producers were nominated for numerous awards following their 2019 releases, with Lear, Kimmel and others winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special (Live) at the 2019 and 2020 ceremonies.
The upcoming third episode of Live in Front of a Studio Audience is currently set to air on December 7th.
Not far along: The upcoming third episode of Live in Front of a Studio Audience is currently set to air on December 7th