Lil Kev: A New Animated Comedy from Kevin Hart and Wanda Sykes

Kevin Hart and Wanda Sykes have teamed up to create Lil Kev, an adult animated comedy inspired by Hart’s teenage experiences.

Hart lends his voice to his younger self, while Sykes portrays his mother in the series.

Although they recorded their lines separately, Hart expressed his excitement about collaborating with Sykes, humorously noting her preference for working alone.

“I was excited, thinking, ‘This is going to be great, I get to work with Wanda.’ Then I was told, ‘Wanda prefers to record solo,’” Hart joked.

Sykes shared her own perspective: “I asked where Kevin was recording, and they said, ‘Oh, he’s in L.A.’ So I decided to do my session in Philly.”

Hart emphasized that Sykes was his first choice for the role of his mother, particularly given the show’s mature themes.

Sykes, in turn, expressed enthusiasm for the role, saying she enjoyed bringing energy to the animated character. “I definitely relate to Nancy. Yelling at Kevin is something I fully embraced—it was like a dream come true. This opportunity just landed in my lap, and I’m incredibly grateful,” she quipped.

“I was always eager to record. Whenever they asked, ‘Wanda, can you come in today?’ I’d say, ‘Absolutely!’ They even offered me a car, but I didn’t need it—I practically skipped to the studio, rehearsing my lines on the way, saying things like, ‘Shut up, Kevin! I’ll get you!’”

Following last week’s Oscars, Hart was asked if he might reconsider hosting the awards show, given his previous withdrawal from the role.

In 2018, Hart stepped down from hosting the Oscars due to controversy over past tweets. Choosing to avoid distractions, he decided to step away from the position.

Reflecting on the situation, Hart remarked, “That moment was supposed to be a big one, but things unfolded differently. My relationship with the Oscars is good. I’m in a great place, and so are they. It’s important to create space for new talent. I appreciate seeing fresh faces on that stage.”

“There are plenty of strong candidates today who can take the show to new heights. These are my very politically correct reasons for saying no.”