Kevin Hart, his HartBeat Productions banner and Netflix have officially signed an exclusive long-term deal.
According to reports, the partnership will see the actor-comedian star in at least four films he will also be producing, along with a first-look film producing agreement. “Partnering with Netflix is an amazing opportunity for HartBeat and myself,” Hart said in a statement. “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. 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.”
This deal marks a “major commitment” for both Hart and Netflix; the streaming service’s last significant partnership was inked with Adam Sandler for approximately $150 million USD. Netflix film head Scott Stuber added, “Netflix has enjoyed a long relationship with Kevin and we’ve been lucky enough to partner with him many times. 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.”
Hart’s November 2020 stand-up special Zero F*cks Given was named the No. 1 Netflix comedy special of the year, with over 21 million subscribers watching the program within the first four weeks of its release. He is currently set to star and executive produce the Netflix scripted limited series True Story, which will mark his dramatic series debut.
