Orange Pop! is a free match-3 puzzle game featuring original voice performances by Thompson and Mitchell.
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| Kel Mitchell (left) and Kenan Thompson attend the "Good Burger 2" world premiere on Nov. 14, 2023, in New York City. Theo Wargo/Getty Images |
Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell are going mobile.
The duo have expanded their “Kenan & Kel Universe” with the launch of Orange Pop!, a free-to-play mobile game available now on the App Store and Google Play. The game marks the latest in an expansion across gaming, film, publishing and lifestyle ventures, joining a growing slate of projects that also includes the previously announced film Kenan & Kel Meet Frankenstein, a new comic book series, a lifestyle collection and more.
Orange Pop! is a free match-3 puzzle game featuring original voice performances from Thompson and Mitchell. Unlike traditional match-3 games, Orange Pop! allows players to experience exclusive reactions, jokes and commentary from Thompson and Mitchell as they progress through levels.
To celebrate the launch of Orange Pop!, Staple Games will donate $1 for every download during the game’s first 24 hours, up to $100,000, benefiting the Kenan Thompson Family Foundation and the National College Resources Foundation.
The game launch comes more than three decades after Thompson and Mitchell first broke out with their hit Nickelodeon sitcom Kenan & Kel, following finding success on All That.
“Kel and I have spent our careers creating things that bring people together through laughter, and Orange Pop! is another way to do that,” Thompson said. “This isn’t just putting our names on a game. We wanted to create something that captures the energy, humor and friendship people have connected with for years while also building something new for the next generation of fans.”
Added Mitchell: “Orange soda has always been part of the story, so bringing that spirit into a game just felt right. Orange Pop! is fun, colorful and captures the spirit that’s always been part of Kenan & Kel. Whether you’ve been with us since the beginning or you’re discovering us for the first time, we hope people have a blast playing it.”
Orange Pop! is produced by Artists for Artists, the independent studio co-founded by Thompson and John Ryan Jr., in partnership with Range Games, a division of Range Media Partners. The game is executive produced by Thompson, Mitchell and John Ryan Jr. for AFA; and Ben Jones, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones and Christian Franck (associate producer) for Range Games. It is developed and published by Staple Games.
"Working with Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell was an absolute blast" said Staple Games. "Their energy, comedic timing, and genuine love for games brought something special to every step of development. Seeing it launched on the Today Show was quite surreal."
Also on their slate is Kenan & Kel Meet Frankenstein, which is in development through Artists for Artists and Range, and a comic book series, Kenan & Kel Meet Zombies (working title), which is in development and being published by Range Comics. Additional projects slated for late 2026 include a lifestyle collection developed in collaboration with designer Sean Wotherspoon.
“Orange Pop! is the first major step in expanding the Kenan & Kel universe across gaming, film, publishing and consumer products,” Ryan said. “At Artists for Artists, we’re focused on building enduring creator-led franchises, and this launch is just the beginning of what’s ahead.”
Check out Kenan & Kel's new mobile game, OrangePop!, now available on the App Store and Google Play.
Join Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell in Orange Pop, a match-3 puzzle game built around real voices, quick riffs, and the best-friend energy people love.Every level gives you something to clear, something to pop, and something funny to hear. Swap colorful pieces, trigger fizzy power-ups, build streaks, and listen as Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell react to your biggest moves, close calls, and comeback wins.Orange Pop is classic match-3 made warmer, louder, and more alive. It has the easy joy of a puzzle game you can play anytime, with the personality of two performers who know exactly how to turn a simple moment into a bit.Play a level. Hear the banter. Chase the next star. Pop the board open.Features:- Match colorful pieces across hand-built puzzle levels- Create row clears, column clears, area clears, and big combo moments- Use boosters to shake up the board when things get tight- Hear original voice moments from Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell- Unlock cosmetics and build your own look for the duo- Keep your streak going with quick, satisfying levels- Enjoy a bright orange-pop world full of bubbles, fizz, and feel-good energyWhether you are here for the puzzles, the voices, the nostalgia, or just a game that makes your phone feel more fun, Orange Pop is ready when you are.Download free and start popping.
Original source: The Hollywood Reporter.
Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell Announce New Project in the 'Kenan & Kel Universe': 'Different Than Anything I've Seen' (Exclusive)
The comedy duo are sharing yet another way for fans to enjoy their signature sense of humor
NEED TO KNOW
- Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell are expanding their entertainment universe with Orange Pop!
- The new Kenan & Kel game is a free-to-play match-3 mobile puzzle game, featuring original voice performances from the duo
- Thompson and Mitchell tell PEOPLE about what they're excited to share with fans
Aww, here it goes!
Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell are entering the gaming space, officially launching their new game, Orange Pop! The free-to-play mobile game, now available on the App Store and Google Play, marks the latest in the duo's expansion of all things Kenan & Kel.
Orange Pop! is a free match-3 puzzle game featuring original voice performances from Thompson, 48, and Mitchell, 47, bringing the duo's signature humor, energy, and friendship directly into the gameplay experience.
Speaking with PEOPLE about the game, the two shared their excitement for the game as part of the Kenan & Kel universe.
"We're excited to have our own game out. When fans play, it's a lot of surprises that are inside of it too that you're going to love," Mitchell shares. "You're gonna unlock stuff in there. A lot of fun secrets."
"It's gonna be a lot of fun," Thompson confirms. "There's a lot of different things that you can do with the avatars and stuff, and different levels."
Laughing, he adds, "As it goes on, you might get addicted. But we want everyone to play and have fun. It's a good time. It looks different than anything that I've seen out there."
"I'm really excited because it's helping to open up the Kenan & Kel universe, as we come into our adult performer united things. It's just another step down that road to mogulness."
Unlike traditional match-3 games, Orange Pop! allows players to experience exclusive reactions, jokes, and commentary from Thompson and Mitchell as they progress through a colorful, orange-soda-inspired puzzle adventure designed for longtime fans and a new generation alike.
Orange Pop! is produced by Artists for Artists (AFA), the independent studio co-founded by Thompson and John Ryan Jr., in partnership with Range Games, a division of Range Media Partners. The game is executive produced by Kenan Thompson, Kel Mitchell, and John Ryan Jr. for AFA; and Ben Jones, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones and Christian Franck (associate producer) for Range Games. It is developed and published by Staple Games.
This exciting new development from Kenan & Kel comes among a number of new projects from the duo. Feature film Kenan & Kel Meet Frankenstein is currently in development through Artists for Artists and Range. Their first comic book series, Kenan & Kel Meet Zombies is also in development, and will feature the pair battling an outbreak of undead miners, cowboys, and settlers after a chemical accident awakens a long-buried Old West town. It is being published by Range Comics, a division of Range Media Partners.
Additional projects slated for late 2026 include a lifestyle collection developed in collaboration with acclaimed designer Sean Wotherspoon. Inspired by the enduring cultural impact of Kenan & Kel, the collection will blend nostalgia, storytelling, and contemporary style for longtime fans and a new generation discovering the iconic duo.
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From People:
Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell Reminisce About First Impressions from All That Days and Send Love to Costar Amanda Bynes (Exclusive)
The two talk about their early friendship and working relationship with PEOPLE
NEED TO KNOW
- Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell first met as castmates on All That in 1994
- Thompson, 48, and Mitchell, 47, share their memories of the early days with PEOPLE
- The pair also take time to shout out castmate Amanda Bynes, who joined the show's cast in 1996
- Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell will always feel connected to their roots.
The two comedians first met as each was hired to the cast of Nickelodeon's All That in 1994. Not only did the young funnymen show that they had what it takes to entertain, but they developed a comedic chemistry that led to some of the shows and films that made up millennial childhoods.
Thompson, 48, and Mitchell, 47, recently caught up with PEOPLE while launching the newest piece of the "Kenan & Kel universe," the pair's new mobile game, OrangePop! There, they recalled their first impressions of each other, early on.
"I was the nerdy one and just quiet because I was one of the last two hired. They had cast the first five, and I think y'all had a meet and greet before I even got there. I'm just naturally kind of introverted, I guess," Thompson shared.
"I was just doing my work like I thought a good boy's supposed to do. But they were all hanging out in the school hours in the beginning, and then once we started having rehearsals, that's when I emerged from my shell. At that point, the misunderstandings of me being weird or nerdy or stuck up or whatever kind of just went away. I was just quiet."
Mitchell points out that the cast did know him from D2: The Mighty Ducks, which came out that year, which Thompson admits he was careful not to bring up.
"He came in with the whole Mighty Ducks get-up, because he'd just finished the film, so he had the bag and the roller skates," Mitchell recalled.
"Because I was celebrating that... I didn't want to throw it over in y'all face. I was just used to wearing it because it was new free s--t," Thompson said.
Sharing his memories of Mitchell, Thompson said, "Kel was the coolest because Kel had gradient lenses at 14 and only players do s--t like that."
"If you have a prescription and you need it still, would you pick gradient lenses? Only motherf--kers that got flavor. I was like , 'Okay, that's interesting.' The guy's got style.' I noticed that."
When it comes to keeping in touch with members of the All That cast, the pair chose to call costar Josh Server in a prank call as part of PEOPLE's Truth or Dare. The two convinced Server that Mitchell was stuck in an elevator after a night of partying in New York City, with Thompson not particularly concerned about rescuing him, in a hilarious exchange.
The two also touched on their love for Amanda Bynes, who joined the All That cast in 1996.
"I haven't talked to Amanda in years, sadly, but we always send positive vibes and thoughts and prayers and whatever we can," Thompson said.
"Yeah. I haven't been in contact lately, but she's doing good. I've seen her posts. She's doing her fashion, dropping music, so we're always rooting for her," Mitchell said, adding, "Love you, Amanda!"
"Love you, girl," Thompson added.
Check out Kenan & Kel's new mobile game, OrangePop!, now available on the App Store and Google Play.
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From People:
Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell Share One Habit They Avoid as Celebrities: 'It'll Mess with Your Head' (Exclusive)
Kenan & Kel catch up with PEOPLE about the release of their first mobile game, Orange Pop!
NEED TO KNOW
- Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell first met as castmates on All That in 1994 and have continued working together in the years since
- The pair recently played Truth or Dare with PEOPLE and talked about whether they look themselves up online
- Thompson, 48, and Mitchell, 47, are celebrating the release of their first mobile game, Orange Pop!
- Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell have been careful to protect themselves throughout their journey with fame.
The comedy duo with Nickelodeon roots recently chatted with PEOPLE about their new game, Orange Pop! While talking about all the elements that make up the "Kenan & Kel universe," the two were asked if they ever Google themselves.
Thompson, 48, shared, "Very randomly," while Mitchell, 47, revealed he used to indulge himself but has since decided to stop.
"You don't love to see that much influx of people's opinions on you, or just stories and a lot of made-up numbers around you and stuff," he explained, adding, "There's all kinds of craziness. It'll mess with you."
Mitchell noted, "I stopped doing it. I used to, but I had to stop doing that. You've got to."
Echoing Thompson's feelings, he agreed, "It'll mess with your head, what you hear. You don't like stuff like that to mess with your head."
The two comedians rose to fame, first individually on All That and later as a team in Kenan & Kel, Good Burger and more. Over two decades later, the pair aren't tired of hearing from fans about their favorite characters and moments from their projects.
Asked if they've ever been bothered by being recognized, Mitchell said, "It comes with it. You know what I mean? You got to know that that's what comes with it and it's going to happen in every situation, no matter how you feel about it. I've been [approached] at an awkward time, but I try to say, 'What up,' to people because you never know what they might be going through. And the memory that they have with you and them meeting the person that they looked up to or they're meeting someone that they have such a good memory of watching."
"If you were rude in that moment and it just stuck? It would've killed me. I'm that kid. You know what I mean? So I don't have a problem with it."
Thompson added, "I try not to wish down alternate reality roads because I'm very thankful for the experiences and the journeys. I wouldn't change any of that for the world. The only thing I would kind of put a sprinkle up in there is a little more information on what fame might be like in the beginning, before."
"We were just excited to be performers. And I can speak for myself, it wasn't about fame. It was about maybe making some money and doing some, having fun kind of thing and just being on TV, but I didn't know what being a public persona is and all that kind of stuff," he continued.
"So a little knowledge would've been helpful, so we don't just stumble and bump our heads as we go along or have moments of discomfort or questioning those things."
He admits, "I wish I could just go outside and not be bothered or whatever. But at the same time, the people that are bothering me are showing us love. They could easily not care and they could easily or be mean me ... that kind of energy, but it's never that. So that's nice."
Check out Kenan & Kel's new mobile game, Orange Pop!, now available on the App Store and Google Play.
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From Den of Geek:
Kenan and Kel Discuss Fizzy New Mobile Game and Expanding Their Brand
Orange Pop! marks the beginning of a trove of exciting upcoming projects for Kenan & Kel fans to enjoy.
Iconic Good Burger comedy duo Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell have been captivating audiences since 1994 when they debuted as cast members on Nickelodeon sketch series All That. Now, after more than three decades of partnership, they are expanding the Kenan and Kel universe; introducing a mobile game, Orange Pop!, and working on their own remake of the classic “Abbott and Costello Meet Universal Monsters” movies. The venerable pop culture pair stopped by the Den of Geek studio in Manhattan to discuss all upcoming projects.
“Cool kids sitting on a couch again, that’s what this is,” Thompson remarks as he and Mitchell sink into a sofa.
Orange Pop! includes original voice performances from Thompson and Mitchell, who also serve as executive producers. The mobile game includes personalized reactions, jokes, and commentary as players travel through a colorful, orange-soda-inspired puzzle adventure. This also incorporates specialized matching icons that trigger an orange soda rocket that blasts away pieces from the board. Mitchell’s character’s love for orange soda in the pair’s Nickelodeon series Kenan & Kel is the inspiration for Orange Pop!’s visuals and namesake.
“It’s a classic three-match game, and when you get a bunch of good matches, there is an orange soda in there that explodes and knocks out everything,” Mitchell says. “That is really fun; I love the orange soda.”
Combining a ’90s-inspired art style with modern gaming sensibilities, Orange Pop! — which is produced by Thompson’s Artists for Artists, an independent studio built by artists for artists that Thompson co-founded with John Ryan Jr. — takes on the creativity of Thompson and Mitchell to create a new experience for fans. In tandem with the expansion of the “Kenan and Kel” universe, they are committing to supporting charitable causes.
“For the first 100,000 downloads of our game, we are donating $1 toward our favorite charities. Donating $50,000 each, basically,” Thompson says. “So, we want everyone to get to it, so we can get to giving.”
Developer and distributor of Orange Pop!, Staple Games has also agreed to donate $1 for every download within the first 24 hours of the game’s launch as well. The charities they are donating to include the National College Resources Foundation and the Kenan Thompson Family Foundation Corporation.
“I love the National College Resource Foundation. We give scholarships to kids from HBCUs, providing many different resources for them. It’s just a great organization,” Mitchell says.
“I went with my own foundation, but we support other foundations. I work a lot with the Cristian Rivera Foundation … Ralphie’s Rescues is another we work closely with.” Thompson said. “Yeah, a whole bunch of other ones. Giving some scholarships to some kids this year. The goal is to shine a light on other foundations that may need a platform like mine.”
The release of the game marks the first step in the two-man comedy troupe’s franchising of their beloved brand that started in the early ‘90s.
In January of this year, Thompson and Mitchel announced their upcoming film, Kenan & Kel Meet Frankenstein, a horror comedy that will begin production this summer. The film is being produced by Artist for Artist and Range Media Partners. The witty dyad will star as two delivery drivers on a routine drop-off that takes a terrifying turn, literally, as they find their destination to be a hair-raising castle in which they awaken the frightening creature of Frankenstein’s monster — turning their casual delivery into a fight for their lives.
“There have been a few different ideas, and we feel that the [concept] is definitely a version we can execute without a lot of interference, as the monsters are public domain,” Thompson says. “Frankenstein is a hot boy these days. He’s in a bunch of different things, you know what I mean. So that’s fun.”
“And comedy duos — Abbott and Costello, those types of movies. We are getting in that lane,” Mitchell adds. “You get to see us in a different genre. It’s going to be great because when a lot of people hear it, they thought it was like ‘Kenan & Kel the TV show,’ but this is going to be very different. Kind of like a Get Out meets Shaun of the Dead.”
Thompson and Mitchell are also expanding into the comic industry with their first comic, Kenan & Kel Meet Zombies, a tentative title published by Range Comics, as the duo finds themselves fighting undead miners, cowboys, and settlers after a chemical accident reanimates a long-buried Old West town. Blending horror, comedy, and adventure, readers follow Thompson and Mitchell as creatures crawl in search of blood to terrorize whoever they find.
Also expected from the team this year is the release of a lifestyle collection, which is currently in development with acclaimed designer Sean Wotherspoon.
Beginning in 2003, Kenan and Kel’s creative partnership took a hiatus until 2023’s Good Burger 2, as Thompson embarked on a Saturday Night Live career that saw him become the longest-tenured cast member in NBC’s comedy institution. Now, however, the duo is here to stay – their consistent and strong partnership is continuing to grow in innovative and creatively unexpected, yet on-brand ways that are keeping long-time fans and new audiences on their toes.
“You know we’re just very familiar. Similar upbringing, a lot of characteristics in our family are very similar. Chicago and Atlanta are two very loyal hometown-y kinds of towns,” Thompson says.
“We got the sauce, man,” Mitchell agrees.
“We just like to have a good time. We make each other laugh. That’s a big part of it.”
Orange Pop! is now available on iOS and Android, in both the Apple and Google Play stores.
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From Forbes:
Kenan Thompson’s Next Act
Kenan Thompson behind the camera for a horror flick? How about helping brands up their storytelling game? The longest-running cast member in SNL history is stepping into a new chapter of creativity that finds him expanding his lens while still keeping his standing Saturday night date.
“It feels freeing and exciting, stepping into new phases in life and career,” says the 48-year-old who made his screen debut in 1994 as an original cast member on Nickelodeon sketch comedy series All That. “It’s always nice to get out on the promotion trail for things that we're initiating ourselves as opposed to being tasked to do so. It's just a different dynamic.”
The promotion trail for Artists For Artists, the independent production studio Thompson co-founded in 2021 with producer John Ryan Jr., is getting some heavy foot traffic this summer. After setting records at Paramount+ with the 2023 Good Burger sequel, the company that provides expansive creative and financial autonomy for its talent, has several high-profile projects launching with partner Range Media.
For one, there’s the extension of the Kenan & Kel Universe with an array of multi-platform programming featuring Thompson and longtime comedic partner Kel Mitchell that’s rooted in the legacy brand with an eye to next gen. Then there’s the growing roster of projects that find Thompson ensconced behind the camera. Chapter 51, the Tyler Shields-directed comedic thriller that stars Colman Domingo and Abigail Bresnan, premieres June 23 on VOD platforms. The film is Thompson’s first producing credit of a project he doesn’t star in. Then there’s the entry into the brand space beginning with a suite of social media content for a popular candy brand, and Thompson children’s book, Unfunny Bunny, which published in January and is on track to get a universe of its own.
For Thompson, the momentum represents both wing-spreading and security. “Just on a philosophical level, I think I’m leaving behind the worry of, ‘Will I be able to work and support myself?’ Because now we’re moving in so many different directions there’s always work to be done and I’m not worried about, Will I have a job? I mean, I got like 17 jobs at the moment—which is great.”
On the Kenan & Kel front, Orange Pop!, a free match-3 puzzle game featuring Thompson and Mitchell voicing hi-energy comical bits, is first out of the gate on the App Store and Google Play. Feature film Kenan & Kel Meet Frankenstein is in development and comic book series Kenan & Kel Meet Zombies, which also blends horror, comedy and adventure, is being published by Range Comics. Also in the works is more merch and a lifestyle collection developed in collaboration with designer Sean Wotherspoon that blends nostalgia, storytelling and contemporary style.
“It’s about continuing the momentum of Kel and I being adult performers now and opening that chapter and bringing along all the fans from all those years ago. And we're so blessed because kids are constantly finding it, whether their parents show it to them or their siblings or whatever. I'm constantly getting told by young generations they love the show, they just have such an affinity towards it, and Kel and I have such a good time working together,” says Thompson, hinting a live tour may be in the offing.
“And Kel and I have such a great work ethic. We were putting in 14-hour days and then taking pictures afterwards because we were so appreciative of the people of Rhode Island just coming out and watching us,” he says of filming Good Burger 2, which broke the record for the most-watched domestic launch for an original film in Paramount+ history.
Beyond the good vibes, “I learned that we can do it,” Thompson says of his AFA partnership with Ryan. “We can actually get a production to a place, get it funded, and get it done. From us suggesting we do it to having the capabilities to help people feel comfortable about greenlighting... it was a very nuanced kind of thing to be allowed even to have such large percentage participatory stakes and other things. We’ve always wanted to get to that point, and the time is happening now so it's just very exciting to watch the rose blossom.”
And while Thompson will still be on screen plenty, he’s embracing his role behind the scenes. “I’m really having fun putting things on their feet. And just that instant gratification of like, ‘Cut. We got it.’”
Genre-wise, “I can do comedy really well because I get it, and I’m enjoying the storytelling part of it and that's something that I've gotten better at. I've been around SNL and writers like Seth Meyers. The storytelling is very strategic. The smarter the sketch, the harder they worked on it, and that's all good math for me these days. Meaning, the writing part is challenging and then once you get on set, you're starting to create it, that's the fun part,” he says.
“Comedy and horror, they’re pretty similar in that they’re very straightforward as far as how you approach the moments in those kinds of movies. You’ve got to set things up for the punchline and in horror, you have to set up the suspense. I think they’re interchangeable a little bit as far as shooting styles is concerned. Big action, I think that takes an actual expert to make sure you’re not just wasting two different crews—you gotta really know what you’re doing. That’ll be the next chapter, 2.0. I think I need to go to school so that I can talk to the lighting department intelligently and so I can actually be the final voice on these decisions."
Recently, Thompson and Ryan found themselves saying yes to creating a suite of social storytelling for a prominent candy brand, which for the moment is under literal and figurative wraps.
“After that first day of shooting, I was having such a good time, and I realized how quick the day goes when you're directing like this. I thought I would be tired, but there's just so much going on, and you’re not taking a lot of up-and-down breaks like actors do all day. This is such a different experience,” he says.
“I loved the feeling of getting it right and putting something in the can and keep adding to the canon. All of a sudden you start looking at your work semi-edited together and it's like, ‘Yo we did really good.’ I usually don't really love watching myself so I stay away from monitors and stuff a lot of the time. But when it's someone else, it's like, ‘Oh I can really take a microscopic approach to this whole thing and fix any and everything that I see that's bothering me.”
And after three-plus decades on the other side of the camera, Thompson is also fired up about creating environments that serve everyone on set.
“I have a lot of excitement to be another voice for the underserved, the underrepresented, to protect them on set and things. Sometimes it’s the actors, sometimes it's the grips who are having a hard day. And I’m just trying to make everybody feel special and be considerate of time for everyone. You can't just treat the actors like their time is more special than a crew person because they're working, you know, sometimes almost four times as hard,” he says.
“I like the approach where everybody’s important. And me being an actor, I think I’m sensitive to that because I've been hurry-up-and-waiting for the last 35 years. So if there's a way to smooth that out in any way for each department, I try to do that. And when you’re not wasting time you get a better performance out of people when they're a little more jovial.”
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Originally published: June 13, 2026.
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