Kevin Hart Will Play Gary Coleman Role In ‘Diff’rent Strokes’ Special

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Kevin Hart has been cast as Arnold Jackson in an ABC special that will recreate episodes of the classic sitcom “Diff’rent Strokes.” The 90-minute program, titled “Live in Front of a Studio Audience,” will air on the network on December 7.

Mr Drummond will be played by John Lithgow, Willis Jackson by Damon Wayans, and Mrs Garrett by Ann Dowd. However, it is Hart’s casting as Arnold that has sparked the most discussion on Twitter.

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Several commentators questioned whether Hart, 42, would be able to effectively play Arnold, who was originally played by Gary Coleman when he was a tween.

Reacting to the news, one fan asked on Twitter, “Why would you hire @KevinHart4real to play a child when you could have maybe given a chance to an actual child to do something historical?”

Another person commented, claiming that Hart, who is 5-foot-4 and frequently mocks his own height, was the same size as Coleman on the show.

“Good choice on @KevinHart4real. Can use Gary’s wardrobe,” the Twitter user quipped.

Kevin Hart has not yet informed his 36.8 million Twitter followers of the news.

Meanwhile, the 90-minute “Live in Front of a Studio Audience” will include a recreation of a re-enactment episode from “The Facts of Life,” an ABC spin-off that aired for nine seasons.

The casting for that recreation has yet to be revealed.

“Diff’rent Strokes” ran from 1978 to 1986, while “The Facts of Life” ran from 1979 to 1988.

Norman Lear, a sitcom legend, will executive produce the new ABC special. Executive producers include Will Ferrell, Jimmy Kimmel, Justin Theroux, and Kerry Washington.

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Previous “Live in Front of a Studio Audience” episodes have included “All in the Family,” “Good Times,” and “The Jeffersons.”