‘Martin’ Reboot Announced As Drama Series, ‘Young Martin’

It looks like Martin is following in the footsteps of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, as it was just announced the sitcom will be making a return, albeit, in a different format. Deadline has just reported that a new series titled, Young Martin is now in the works and will now be an hour-long drama series, similar to Peacock's Bel-Air. 

Now, if you remember, Bel-Air got off the ground due to a fan-made trailer, uploaded to YouTube by Morgan Cooper. The trailer was an updated and dramatic reimagining of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. It didn't take long for the trailer to become a viral sensation, even reaching Will Smith, who praised the project and expressed interest in expanding the concept into a reboot, even personally meeting with Cooper. Bel-Air would finally premiere in February 2022 and is now entering its third season.

Shortly after the premiere of Bel-Air, another fan-made trailer centering around Martin was released on the Internet by up-and-coming filmmaker, Bobby Huntley. The trailer was titled, Pam & Tommy: A Detroit Love Story, which was a dramatic retelling of the relationship between the sitcom's original characters, Pam James and Tommy Strawn. 

In regards to the new Martin project, Deadline states that: "The hourlong Young Martin is a contemporary origin story centering on Martin Payne, a charismatic teenager navigated the complexities of transitioning from youth to adulthood. It reimagines the character played by Lawrence on Martin, paying homage to the original show, which aired on Fox from 1992-1997."

It appears that television executives are tapping into the nostalgia that 90s sitcom invoked. With the success of Bel-Air on Peacock, it only makes sense for executives to try out a reboot with yet another beloved 90s black sitcom. The show's synopsis on Deadline continued: 

"Set in modern-day Detroit, Young Martin follows Martin Payne, a spirited teenager whose journey is characterized by ambition, humor and a genuine compassion for those around him. The show will explore themes of family, friendship and life while the young Payne balances on the tightrope between adolescence and adulthood. Martin's quick wit and magnetic personality draw him into high-stakes situations, where he must confront obstacles, emotions and ultimately, find his path to success"

The show, currently in development, is in collaboration with WonderHill Studios. CEO of the production company stated: 

"Out of all the hit shows during the 90s, there was only one Martin - a show that defined culture and positivity. Martin reflected a real group of friends from our community that wound up on TV screens all over the world. I respected and revered Martin Lawrence for creating Martin Payne and what he did for African Americans on television in front and behind the camera. In many ways, he influenced my path in the entertainment industry and it's an honor to partner with Martin and his younger self and share him with the next generation of fans."

So, what do you guys think of the new drama series, Young Martin? Will you be watching or do you think it's best to leave the iconic sitcom alone?