Fox Entertainment and Kevin Hart’s global media company Hartbeat have entered into a strategic partnership designed to capitalize on the rapidly growing microdrama market, creating a new pipeline for stories that could eventually evolve into major television series and feature films.
Under the agreement, Fox Entertainment Studios will receive first-look rights to evaluate and develop film and television projects originating from short-form vertical series produced under Hartbeat’s Codeblack, Essence, and Revolt brands. Following their initial release, Fox Entertainment Global will oversee worldwide distribution of the content.
The collaboration launches with an ambitious slate of 25 live-action microdrama titles spanning multiple genres, including drama, thriller, and faith-based storytelling. The series will premiere on My Drama, a vertical video platform operated by Holywater Tech, a company in which Fox has previously invested. As part of the rollout, Codeblack will establish the platform’s first dedicated branded channel.
Executives view the initiative as a modern approach to intellectual property development, allowing stories to be tested with audiences in the short-form space before being adapted into larger entertainment properties. By monitoring audience engagement and response, Fox and Hartbeat hope to identify concepts with the potential for expansion into traditional television and film formats.
“Hartbeat has a powerful creative voice and an exceptional instinct for stories that connect with audiences,” Fox Entertainment Studios Head of Scripted Hannah Pillemer said, noting that the partnership provides a unique opportunity to discover and develop projects that resonate with viewers in real time.
Jeff Clanagan, founder of Codeblack and President and Chief Distribution Officer at Hartbeat, emphasized the cultural significance of the partnership. He noted that Codeblack, Essence, and Revolt have built trusted relationships with audiences over many years and now have the opportunity to unite those communities through a single destination focused on culturally relevant storytelling.
The three participating brands collectively reach more than 20 million followers across their social media platforms, providing Hartbeat and Fox with a substantial built-in audience as they expand deeper into the vertical content space.
The agreement also reflects a broader industry shift toward microdramas and vertical storytelling, formats that have experienced significant growth as audiences increasingly consume content on mobile devices. For Hartbeat, the deal further expands the company’s investment in short-form entertainment, while giving Fox another avenue to discover and develop intellectual property with proven audience appeal before committing to larger-scale productions.
As the entertainment industry continues to explore new content models, the Fox-Hartbeat partnership positions both companies at the forefront of a rapidly evolving market where short-form storytelling may become a launching pad for television’s next big hit.
