Culture 4 min read By Mason Emerson
Fox Entertainment and Kevin Hart's Hartbeat Sign Microdrama Deal
Fox Entertainment Studios will get a first look at film and TV projects developed from vertical series released under Hartbeat's Codeblack, Essence and Revolt brands, while Fox Entertainment Global handles worldwide sales after their initial run.
Fox Entertainment and Kevin Hart's production company Hartbeat have struck a microdrama deal that gives the studio a first look at developing feature films and television series from vertical series released under three Hartbeat brands.
The agreement covers projects from Codeblack, Essence and Revolt, which together have a combined social following exceeding 20 million. Fox Entertainment Studios will have the first opportunity to develop film and television projects based on those vertical series, while distributor Fox Entertainment Global will sell them worldwide following their first run.
The pipeline launches with a specific project, though details of the inaugural title were not immediately available. The deal signals a broader push by Fox into the short-form vertical series space, a format that has gained traction on social platforms and mobile-first viewing.
Microdramas, also known as vertical series, are short episodes designed for vertical screens and often distributed through social media and dedicated apps. The format has grown rapidly as audiences increasingly consume entertainment on smartphones, and traditional studios have begun looking for ways to adapt the model for mainstream audiences.
Hartbeat's subsidiary brands bring distinct audiences to the partnership. Codeblack has a history in Black-focused entertainment, Essence is tied to the longstanding lifestyle magazine and its cultural reach, and Revolt is the media network founded by Sean «Diddy» Combs. Together, their social footprint gives Fox access to a built-in viewership for any projects that move into development.
For Fox Entertainment, the deal adds a new source of intellectual property at a time when studios are competing for attention across streaming and social platforms. The first-look arrangement means Fox Entertainment Studios can evaluate vertical series for adaptation before other buyers, while Fox Entertainment Global can monetize the original vertical runs internationally.
The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. It is also unclear how many projects Fox expects to develop annually or what the timeline is for the first adaptation. Representatives for Fox Entertainment and Hartbeat did not immediately provide additional details.
The partnership reflects a wider trend in the entertainment industry, where short-form content that originates online is increasingly seen as a testing ground for larger film and television productions. By securing rights to Hartbeat's vertical output, Fox is positioning itself to capture that pipeline early.
Kevin Hart's Hartbeat has expanded its production slate in recent years, spanning comedy, scripted and unscripted content. The company's move into vertical series with Fox suggests a strategic bet that microdramas can serve as a farm system for traditional Hollywood projects.
Whether the format can sustain feature-length or episodic adaptations remains an open question, but the deal gives Fox a stake in one of the fastest-growing corners of digital entertainment. The first project under the pipeline is expected to be announced in the coming months.
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