I heard you beat out a lot of big names for this role as well.

It was a lot of big names out for it. Um, you know. So people be like, No, I didn't kill them. No, no, no. My cousin did. I hired him.

It's always good to have a cousin like that.

Yeah, absolutely. You need you need one cousin that don't give a damn about going to jail. I got several.

I'm Oliver Tuvana here on the Young Hollywood sofa, with the man of the hour, Justin Hires. How are you?

I'm doing great. How about yourself?

Great. Stand up comedy, you've done TV, movies. What's your personal favorite?

Well, I mean, that's a you know, it's almost like what what do you love more uh, you know, dinner or dessert? Yeah. I love them all, you know. I've always been like naturally like the class clown type person. I won most humorous in elementary and high school.

You did?

Yeah, I did.

Is that on IMDB?

No, it's not.

Is that for the awards and nominations?

No, not yet. It should be. We should put that out there. I should, cuz that's the only award and nomination I've had. So far, yeah. So I've always been that, but I I I love stand up comedy, you know, uh, honing my skills, honing my comedic uh, chops, that and I'm still working on it. But with within doing Rush Hour, you know, I I like acting and I love uh, directing, and I love writing, you know, I just love all of that in general. So it's really hard for me to say which one I love more. I I really do love them all, you know. It's like which kid do you love more?

Come on, everyone has a flavor.

Yeah, that's true. That's true. He just sounds so excited.

Were you popular in school? Is this true? You were popular. You were popular. Was that a lot to do with the humor?

I think so. Well, because it was a defense mechanism. Uh, you know, in elementary school I was very, very small. Like a a dis it was a disrespectful height that I was. And so, and so yeah, so there were people that would try to kinda pick on me. And so I used my comedy as a defense mechanism. And so when you're making the bully cry, When you're making the bully start thinking about his life choices in elementary school, uh, people like, oh, we better not mess with him. And so from that, you know, I kinda just be you know, I became like the cool guy, some what.

There you go. There you go.

I needed it.

You're you're on the right path.

It messed me up with the ladies though.

Did it?

Yeah, because the ladies I believe. I found Kevin Hart do very well in this department. Well, the ladies they they always put me in the friend zone because I was so little though. They're like, oh, you're so cute. The good thing was I was short and girls, you know, they mature faster. So they were taller and developed. So they would always give me hugs. And I was right where I needed to be. They was like, I was like, yes, yes.

So you're happy. You're good. I mean hugs are important too.

Hugs? Yes, they are.

And now you're married.

I'm married now. I'm married. Turn up to the marriage. Yeah. So all you girls that were just hugging that you wish you would have done more back then. Yeah. Absolutely.

There you go. There you go. Um, you have a degree in theater as well, right?

Well, I went to I went to performing arts high school. Uh, where I majored in theater performance. In college I got my degree in Mass Media, Radio, TV, and film.

Wow. She was trying to do what you was doing. Yeah, easy, bro. Easy, bro. I'm I'm staying here. Don't try and push me out. You've done Shakespeare in the park?

I did Shakespeare. You did your research, man. I did. I did. You know, wanting wanting wanting to. Hey. God did his homework. Um, yeah. So yeah, I started out doing Shakespeare um, in middle school. I was the I was the youngest and only African American cast member. Um, and so yeah, I pride myself on that because I knew at an early age that if I wanted to really make it in this business, I had to train and do my homework. And I mean and what's better than the foundation of Shakespeare. It's amazing. Yeah. So yeah, I did that.

If you could take any movie and turn it into a TV show that you're going to star in.

That I was going to star in. I mean, if I wasn't doing Rush Hour, I would want to see Bad Boys. Honestly, it's one of my favorite too. It really is. It really is. That's what I that's what I would want to do. Yeah. So you know, Martin Lawrence and Will Smith are two people that I've always looked up to my entire career. So yeah, if I wasn't doing Rush Hour, if they had a Bad Boys TV show.

I get that from me. You're like going into TV. I wish it was coming. You better believe it. Is it coming or is that I mean they haven't made they haven't made it official. But what I'm saying is that's how Hollywood works. So that'll be you next. You'll be directing or producing. That Bad Boys. Yeah, I see the sparkle in your eyes. You're all ready planned it. Rush Hour. This is exciting. It's crazy. This is this is one of my favorite movies. I'm not just saying that either.

Me too. It's one of my I grew up watching the films. I'm a fan of Chris and Jackie, and you know, hopefully I don't mess it up for everybody.

One of the best partnerships ever, I think, that was.

Absolutely. Absolutely.

Take us through the process, because you you I heard you beat out a lot of big names for this role as well.

It was a lot of big names out for it. Um, you know. So people be like, Did you kill them? Uh, no, I didn't kill them. No, no, no. My cousin did. I hired him.

It's always good to have a cousin like that.

Yeah, absolutely. You need you need one cousin that don't give a damn about going to jail. All right, I got several. Uh.

That's good. Can I borrow some? Can I send them your cousin? This is great.

I'm going to give you a list after show. Um, but yeah, I mean, I was attached to another pilot for another network. And so I didn't even know if I could audition. Um, and then that that pilot was in limbo. And so uh, the Rush Hour casting team allowed me to come in and audition. Uh, last it was the last audition. Um, I had three really good auditions.

Yeah. It went clearly. It went well. And now you got a badge. And now you got a badge. Going into the show, obviously, I mean it's it's hilarious, but it's got its action as well. Did you have to do like you do your own stunts and stuff like that?

I do about 80% of my own stunts. I'm I'm actually a first degree black belt. Um, and so I'm waiting for the punch line.

Are you are you serious? I'm literally I know. I'm not literally waiting for the punch line.

Uh, no, I'm I'm literally a first degree black belt. It's very random. Um, but getting uh, black belt uh, so long ago, it kinda prepared me physically for a show like this. Um, and yeah, so fun fact, me and Kevin Hart, we had the same stunt double.

Look at that. We're both little little men. Look at that. We're both tiny, tiny individuals. I think you've got about six inches on Kevin Hart.

I'm taller than Kevin Hart. That's the only thing I have other over him is my height.

And you're and you're in Rush Hour.

And I'm in Rush Hour. But he's Kevin Hart.

This is great. Well, that's show you. He sells out stadiums. You're both doing all right. You're both doing all right. Check this guy out, Rush Hour, and you'll be seeing him produce and direct Bad Boys as well. Can I play the Will Smith character maybe? You don't say you look like him. Well, yeah, you know what? Listen. Yes, that's what's in right now. Fantastic Four, we had Michael B. Jordan. We can have you and Bad Boys. We need to have equality all around, it needs to be effective on every for everyone. So yes. Yes, I mean. My last day in here. I got a new gig.