After delivering a stirring case for BET Animation at the San Diego Comic-Con, BET president Reginald Hudlin is leaving the cable network just as it’s starting to show promise in the way of original programming. According to the network, Hudlin will go back to his entrepreneurial roots as an independent producer. BET Chairwoman and CEO Debra Lee made the announcement in an internal memo to network employees. BET exec Stephen Hill will fill in for Hudlin until a replacement is found.
Hudlin, who is currently writing Marvel’s Black Panther comic book with artist John Romita Jr., brought the superhero property to BET. Set to debut in February, the animated series is being produced by Los Angles-based toon shop Titmouse, and will be a late-night offering due to its violent nature and fairly adult themes.
Hudlin also struck a deal with actor Vin Diesel to bring storied African military leader Hannibal of Carthage to the screen with an animated show titled Hannibal the Conqueror. Hannibal is perhaps best known for scaling the Alps with an army of elephants to challenge the Roman Empire, but the series aims to highlight other aspects of the general’s extraordinary life and career. The show will delve into his tutelage as a warrior under his father, the king of Carthage, as well as his history-making invasions of Spain and England.
At Comic-Con, Hudlin hinted to other animated shows in development at BET, but declined to offer any details. On the live-action side, Hudlin was largely responsible for the network’s highest-rated shows, including Lil’ Kim: Countdown to Lockdown and Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is. He also ushered in BET’s first scripted series, the sitcom Somebodies, which premiered this week.
Before joining Viacom’s BET in 2005, Hudlin produced the popular House Party movies, directed the Everybody Hates Chris pilot for exec producer Chris Rock, and produced Aaron McGruder’s The Boondocks animated series on Adult Swim. McGruder later took jabs at Hudlin and BET in a Boondocks episode titled ‘The Uncle Ruckus Reality Show.’ The installment was ultimately banned by Cartoon Network for being too controversial, but can be found on the DVD release of the second season.
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