The 2000s sitcomEverybody Hates Chrisis getting an animated reboot withEverybody Still Hates Chriswithout Tyler James Williams returning, as his role as the titular Chris has been recast. Comedian and actor Chris Rock co-created and narratedEverybody Hates Chris, which ran for four seasonsfrom 2005-2009and was loosely based on his experiences growing up in Brooklyn. Tyler James Williams played the young version of Chris, the oldest of three kids, who hopes to be the cool kid at his all-white school but finds it harder than he thought it would be.
The originalEverybody Hates Chriswas well-received by critics and well-loved by audiences thanks to its snappy writing and heartfelt comedy. The cast ofEverybody Loves Chrisalso received high praise for their performances, both the adult cast and child actors.Central to that cast was Williams, whose breakout role showcased his comedic timing and humor, but also his ability to inject scenes with earnestness when the scene called for it. His integral role in the original show is why some may be surprised to learn he’s been recast for theanimated rebootEverybody Still Hates Chris.
Everybody Still Hates Chris Recast The Original Show’s Young Characters
The Original Actors Are Adults Now
While Tyler James Williams isn’t returning forEverybody Still Hates Chris, he’s not the only one who has been recast:the entire cast who previously played the young characters have been swapped out. It makes sense asEverybody Hates Chrisended in 2009. It’s now 15 years later; all the actors have long since grown up. For an animated series still focusing on the younger versions of the characters, it’s easier to recast with age-appropriate voice actors than to bring back the original, now adult live-action cast to voice kids.
For an animated series still focusing on the younger versions of the characters, it’s easier to recast with age-appropriate voice actors than to bring back the original, now adult live-action cast to voice kids.
This is especially true asthe original actors now have other projects on their plates.Tyler James Williams, in particular, has found big success afterEverybody Hates Chris. Original Tonya actor Imani Hakim has had steady work, including her role as Dana inMythic Quest. Original Drew actor Tequan Richmond has been a series regular on several shows in recent years. Meanwhile, Vincent Martella (Greg) has gone on to have an impressive voice acting career across TV and video games.
The Best Quotes From Everybody Hates Chris
Chris may think that everybody hates him, but the multitude of memorable quotes in his show has won over plenty of fans.
However,half the originalEverybody Hates Chriscast will return to voice their animated counterparts; all the adult actors are returning. Chris Rock will be back to produce and narrate the animated series just as he did for the original live-action show. Likewise,Everybody Hates Chrisactors Terry Crews and Tichina Arnoldwill reprise their roles of Julius and Rochelle, Chris' parents. It’s entirely possible, even likely, that some of the other original actors may return in cameo roles voicing other characters depending on how the first season ofEverybody Still Hates Chrisunfolds.
Who Plays Young Chris Rock In Everybody Still Hates Chris
The Whole Voice Cast Skews A Bit Older
Instead,Tim Johnson Jr. will be voicing the role of young Chris inEverybody Still Hates Chris. Born in 1999, the actor and singer is currently 24 years old. This is far older than Tyler James Williams' age of 13-17 in the original show, but it won’t be an issue. WithEverybody Still Hates Chrisbeing animated, there’s a lot of leeway with the actors chosen to voice various roles. As long as they can sound relatively age-appropriate, they’re just fine to voice a younger character. This will b
As for the other actors cast as the younger characters, Ozioma Akagha will voice Tonya, Terrence Little Gardenhigh will voice Drew, and Gunnar Sizemore will voice Greg.All four newcomers to theEverybody Hates Chrisworld have a background in voice actingand other work, so they’re well-suited to voice the characters in the animated series. More pertinently, all the actors have experience voicing young characters and kids in their various animated projects, which will serve them well forEverybody Still Hates Chris.
What Tyler James Williams Has Done Since Everybody Hates Chris
Tyler James Williams Will Be Just Fine Without Everybody Still Hates Chris
AfterEverybody Hates Chris, Williams' next significant role was two seasons of the Matthew Perry-led comedyGo On. He then went on to play Lionel in the subversive movieDear White People, before appearing as Noah inThe Walking Dead. A string of TV sitcoms and procedurals after that landed him his biggest role to date as teacher Gregory Eddie inAbbott Elementary, which has already been renewed for a fourth season.
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For his work in that series,Williams has won a Golden Globe, a SAG Award, and has been nominated for two Emmys. Even if he’s not returning forEverybody Still Hates Chris, Tyler James Williams is clearly doing just fine.
How Everybody Still Hates Chris Has Been Received So Far
Fans Praised The Story But Are Still Unsure Of The Animation
Everybody Still Hates Chrispremiered on August 12, 2025, so it will be a while before many reviews come in. However, the first critical review to hitRotten Tomatoes(viaDecider) praised the animated sequel askeeping the same heart of the original series while using animation to add more visual gags. “Writer/producer Sanjay Shah decided to give Everybody Still Hates Chris the same family-sitcom spirit as the original, and just going for more visually-oriented gags.”
Fans onRedditalso praised the return, with one thread mentioning how surprisingly funny the animated sequel really is. The OPBlazing_Aurawrote, “After watching the first two episodes I’m surprised at how funny the writing is. I was expecting a full downgrade because the animation reminds me of brickleberry or adult animation that’s stiff, but the writing is still pretty nice.” Another Redditor,SunilClark, believes thatEverybody Still Hates Chrisis “surprisingly promising”:
“They understand the character dynamics and how a typical episode plays out, and more importantly, the heart is still there. i like that they didn’t totally undermine the original ending, and in fact, have an easy out if they ever want to try moving Chris’s story forward.”
Others feel that the animation slightly hurtsEverybody Still Hates Chris, making it too different from the original. RedditorShine_Boltwrote, “The animation doesn’t fit well and makes it wholly inferior to the original. It always just feels wrong. But at the same time, it’s new episodes of Everybody Hates Chris! There isn’t any other way that they could do this, this is the price we have to pay, and I think it might be worth it.” In the end, fans seemed to love the story, even if the format has changed.
Everybody Hates Chris
Everybody Hates Chris is a comedy television series inspired by the teenage years of comedian Chris Rock. Set in the 1980s, the show follows young Chris, portrayed by Tyler James Williams, as he navigates the challenges of adolescence while living in a Brooklyn neighborhood. The series also features Terry Crews and Tichina Arnold as Chris’s parents, who strive to maintain family stability amidst various humorous and relatable dilemmas.
