Netflix is adding another famous face to its already deep comedy talent bench.
Kevin James is set to headline a stand-up special for the streaming giant, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. The as-yet-untitled special will film later this year for a 2018 debut.
The special will mark one of his first since 2001’s Sweat the Small Stuff for Comedy Central. This marks the latest collaboration between James and Netflix, which distributed his last film, True Memoirs of an International Assassin, last year. James next appears in the streamer’s Sandy Wexler, which begins streaming next month.
The special also follows James’ successful return to the small screen following his nine-season stint starring on King of Queens. His first-year sitcom, Kevin Can Wait, has pulled solid ratings for CBS and was among the network’s first freshman series to receive a full-season order for the 2016-17 season.
James is just the latest in an increasingly long line of famed comedians who have signed on for stand-up specials at Netflix. The streamer has made a hard push into the stand-up field in the last year, landing specials from Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Jerry Seinfeld, Amy Schumer, Tracy Morgan, Sarah Silverman and Louis C.K. The first two of Chappelle’s three specials debut Tuesday, with a new stand-up special set to premiere on Netflix every week in 2017.
Netflix’s foray into stand-up has created new competition for networks like Comedy Central, HBO and Showtime, all longtime homes to original stand-up specials.
James, whose other credits include Hitch, Paul Blart: Mall Cop and Grown Ups, is repped by WME, Jeff Sussman Entertainment and Schreck Rose.
