Fox Entertainment, Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat Sign Vertical Drama Deal

Fox Entertainment and Kevin Hart‘s Hartbeat have struck a partnership that will see Fox tap Hartbeat’s original vertical series output as a development pipeline for future film and television projects.

Under the agreement, announced at MIPCOM on Tuesday, Fox Entertainment Studios will have first-look rights for vertical series released under Hartbeat’s Codeblack, Essence and Revolt labels to develop the short-form series into feature and TV projects. Fox Entertainment Global will also distribute the original vertical series worldwide after each title’s initial platform run.

The pipeline launches with 25 live-action titles across the thriller, drama and faith-based genres. The series will premiere on a new Codeblack-branded channel on My Drama, a vertical video platform operated by Holywater Tech, a microdramas group in which Fox acquired a strategic stake last year.

According to Fox, the Codeblack, Essence and Revolt labels have a combined social following of more than 20 million for their vertical drama content. The brands will program the My Drama channel with original verticals and direct their audiences to the content.

Fox said the vertical dramas will be used to test stories and characters with audiences before committing to longer formats, including feature films and full-length TV series.

“This partnership gives us an opportunity to identify bold ideas in the vertical space, see what resonates in real time, and give those stories a path to grow into film and television,” said Hannah Pillemer, head of scripted at Fox Entertainment Studios.

“The culture builds the audience, the audience chooses the stories, and with Fox the stories that win become film and television for the world,” said Jeff Clanagan, founder of Codeblack and president and chief distribution officer of Hartbeat.