Fox and Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat strike deal for vertical dramas

Fox Entertainment is joining forces with Kevin Hart's media company Hartbeat in a deal that could take selected mobile-first dramas from short episodes to television and feature films.

The partnership gives Fox a first look at film and television projects developed from micro-series associated with Hartbeat's Codeblack, Essence and Revolt brands. Fox Entertainment Global will also handle worldwide distribution of the vertical productions following their initial platform runs.

The agreement brings together Hartbeat's entertainment brands and Fox's development and distribution operations at a time when short-form scripted drama is attracting growing interest from the industry.

Vertical micro-series are designed primarily for mobile viewing, using a portrait format and short episodes to deliver fast-moving stories. Their compact structure allows viewers to watch in brief sessions, while continuing storylines encourage them to return for further instalments.

For Fox, the deal creates an opportunity to identify stories that might work in longer formats. Rather than automatically turning every short series into a television production, the company will be able to consider selected projects for further development.

Hartbeat's Codeblack, Essence and Revolt brands also give the partnership access to established entertainment identities and audiences. The companies are looking to build on those connections through stories made specifically for the vertical format.

The move comes amid wider investment in mobile-first drama. Production companies and platforms are experimenting with shorter episodes, compact storytelling and new ways of distributing scripted entertainment outside traditional television schedules.

A successful micro-series may have the potential to grow beyond its original format, but expanding a short drama into a full television series or film requires further development and investment.

The Fox and Hartbeat agreement creates a route for selected projects to make that transition, while highlighting the increasing importance of vertical entertainment within the wider screen industry.