Comedy Central has announced the voice cast for its forthcoming animated reboot, Everybody Still Hates Chris, a reimagination of Chris Rock’s acclaimed autobiographical sitcom, Everybody Hates Chris.
Returning to reprise their roles are Chris Rock, who will voice Adult Chris and also serves as an executive producer, alongside original cast members Terry Crews as Julius and Tichina Arnold as Rochelle. Joining them are Tim Johnson Jr., Ozioma Akagha, Terrence Little Gardenhigh, and Gunnar Sizemore, who will voice younger versions of the characters in this new animated incarnation.
Everybody Still Hates Chris will delve into Rock’s teenage years as a self-described “skinny nerd” navigating life in a bustling, working-class family in Brooklyn’s Bed-Stuy neighborhood during the late 1980s.
Johnson Jr. will play young Chris, “a nerd who wants to be cool but he’s outshined by his younger brother, tortured by his little sister, and foiled by his cheapskate dad.” Akagha will voice Tonya, “Chris’ feisty baby sister, with the face of an angel and the heart of a demon, who gets along with her middle brother Drew but leaps at any chance to get Chris in trouble.”
Gardenhigh is the voice “Drew,” the “golden child of the family who is the epitome of Black Excellence: handsome, athletic, a ladies man, taller and cooler than his older brother Chris.” Sizemore will play Greg, Chris’s only friend at school “who is girl-obsessed, status conscious and raised by a single dad.”
Produced by CBS’ Eye Animation Productions and CBS Studios’ animation arm, the animated series is helmed by showrunner Sanjay Shah, known for his work on acclaimed animated comedies. The creative team includes Ali LeRoi, and Michael Rotenberg and Dave Becky of 3 Arts Entertainment, with animation studio Titmouse bringing the characters to life visually.
Everybody Still Hates Chris builds on the legacy of the original Everybody Hates Chris, which aired from 2005 to 2009 and earned acclaim for its unique blend of humor and heartfelt storytelling. The series garnered multiple award nominations, including an NAACP Image Award for its writing, and quickly became a cultural touchstone for its portrayal of Rock’s formative years.
Chris Rock expressed excitement about revisiting his childhood through animation, highlighting the opportunity to introduce new generations to the humor and insights of his youth. His involvement extends beyond voice acting, reflecting his ongoing commitment to expanding the narrative possibilities of his work.