An animated revival of Everybody Hates Chris is in the works at Comedy Central, with Chris Rock, Terry Crews, and Tichina Arnold set to reprise their roles. Star and executive producer Chris Rock will narrate the revival, as he did in the live-action original, while Crews and Arnold will play Crews’ parents.
What to know about the animated Everybody Hates Chris
First announced in August 2022, and hailing from CBS Studios, Chris Rock Enterprises, and 3 Arts Entertainment, the animated revival is confirmed to debut on Comedy Central later this year. It will also be available to stream on Paramount+ at a later date.
Along with Arnold and Crews, and Rock as narrator, new cast members on Everybody Hates Chris include Tim Johnson Jr., Ozioma Akagha, Terrence Little Gardenhigh, and Gunnar Sizemore.
In terms of what to expect from the plot, Rock will voice the adult Chris. He’ll narrate stories that are inspired by his experience growing up in a large working-class family in Brooklyn, during the late 1980s. As for Crews, in the role of Julius, Chris’ father is a gentle giant with a relentless work ethic. Julius grew up poor, knowing the cost of everything down to the penny. He works two jobs to support the family, taking a third on his days off.
Arnold, meanwhile, revisits the role of Rochelle. Chris’ mother is described as smart and strong-willed. She has a nurturing spirit, but she can be a hothead at times and tolerates zero nonsense. That means she’s quit more jobs in a single month than most people do in a lifetime.
The new cast focuses on younger characters, including Johnson Jr. as young Chris. The rest of the new additions alternately play Chris’ siblings and schoolmates, with the titular character having a feisty younger sister (voiced by Akagha) and a handsome older brother (voiced by Gardenhigh). Sizemore voices Chris’ only friend at school.
Rock and Shah executive produce the revival, with Ali LeRoi and 3 Arts’ Michael Rotenberg and Dave Becky. CBS’ Eye Animation Productions is behind the series, while Titmouse is the animation studio. Chris Prynoski, Shannon Prynoski, Antonio Canobbio and Ben Kalina also executive produce.
The live-action Everybody Hates Chris ran for four seasons, beginning on UPN in 2005 and continuing on The CW. It continued until 2009, garnering several Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. It also won an NAACP Image Award in 2007.
