There is a new prince of Bel Air! The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reboot, simply titled Bel-Air, promises lots of drama, a more serious tone and even more insight into the life of its lead character, Will Smith.
While actor Will Smith portrayed the titular character on the original ‘90s sitcom, which was based on his own journey from Philadelphia to Los Angeles, the Peacock series is set to give the story a modern-day twist.
The release of Morgan Cooper’s 2019 short film, Bel-Air — in which he rethought Smith’s life and the comedy show as a dramatic tale — gave life to the upcoming series.
“There’s so many layers to these characters,” Cooper told Smith and writer Chris Collins in September 2020 after learning that the new-and-improved show got picked up. “We’re really going to peel back the layers of these iconic characters. We’re going to explore this world in an unforgettable way. It’s a show that’s really going to surprise people in the best way possible.”
Collins noted at the time that the reboot is “so personal to [Will] and [his] journey as an artist,” but it will also give viewers a way to tap into the world they know now by “getting us back to humanity.”
Bel-Air will star newcomer Jabari Banks as the Philly native who must find his way in the wealthy L.A. neighborhood of Bel Air. He has big shoes to fill, but the Men in Black actor has already signed on to guide him.
“You got a fantastic road ahead of you,” Smith told Banks in an August 2021 Instagram video after announcing him as the show’s lead. “I am looking forward to being an asset for you in this process as you build out your life and your career.”
Banks replied, “This is a dream come true. The way the show has impacted me and my life, it’s incredible to hear you say that. Thank you so much. I am so grateful.”
Three months later, Peacock dropped the first teaser for the fresh series, in which Will’s life will be more relatable to kids of today.
“At its heart, Bel-Air is a coming-of-age story that celebrates the strength and love of the Black family,” showrunners T.J. Brady and Rasheed Newson told The Hollywood Reporter in a statement in November 2021. “We have stayed true to the original premise of the legacy series — Will’s life is turned upside down after he is forced to leave West Philly and lands in Bel Air with its gated mansions and wealth.”
The duo noted that the new series, however, “brings Will and the Banks family into the world as we know it now,” explaining that it’s been “incredible to bring these iconic characters to life when you tap them into the cultural pulse of our time.”
Brady and Newson concluded: “The series was the fabric of so many of our upbringings, tied to memories and the joy of seeing ourselves represented on TV, so it is important to us to pay respect to its legacy.”
Scroll down to learn everything there is to know so far about Bel-Air:
The NBC sitcom ran from 1990 to 1996 with Smith as its lead. After leaving Philadelphia, Will moves to Bel Air to live with his aunt and uncle, Vivian (Janet Hubert) and Philip Banks (James Avery), and their three children, Carlton (Alfonso Ribeiro), Hilary (Karyn Parsons) and Ashley (Tatyana Ali). The rest of the original cast featured the butler Geoffrey (Joseph Marcell), Will’s best friend Jazz (DJ Jazzy Jeff) and Will's mom, Viola Smith (Vernee Watson). Nia Long started playing Will’s love interest, Lisa Wilkes, in 1991. Daphne Reid replaced Hubert in 1993 as Aunt Viv and one year later, Ross Bagley came on board as Will’s cousin Nicky Banks. In 2013, Avery died at the age of 68. NBC/Stuffed Dog/Quincy Jones Ent/Kobal/Shutterstock
The new series is a reimagining of the ‘90s comedy inspired by Cooper’s viral fan film by the same name. In 2019, Cooper released the trailer for his spin on Smith’s life, giving it a deeper, more serious tone than the original. “That’s what really clicked in my mind when I saw the trailer that Morgan did. The concepts in the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reimagined as a drama. A real kid from West Philadelphia, modern day. A Black family in Bel Air,” Smith explained in a September 2020 YouTube video. “The Carlton character, modern day: a Black, young republican. What’s the Hilary character in a world of Instagram and social media? What does that become? Uncle Phil, a Black lawyer turned judge. Aunt Viv, a professional woman that decided to raise her family and now that her kids are older making her way back. All of that stuff is so rich.” NBCU Photo Bank
Smith announced in September 2020 that Bel-Air received a two-season order based on the show’s pitch alone. Nbc/Stuffed Dog/Quincy Jones Ent/Kobal/Shutterstock
Season 1 of Bel-Air will premiere on Peacock sometime in 2022. Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/Shutterstock
The streaming service announced its stars, including Banks as Will, in September 2021. Adrian Holmes and Cassandra Freeman will play Uncle Phil and Aunt Viv, respectively, while Olly Sholotan, Coco Jones and Akira Akbar will portray their children: Carlton, Hilary and Ashley. Jimmy Akingbola (as their butler Geoffrey), Jordan L. Jones (as Will’s BFF Jazz) and Simone Joy Jones (as Will’s love interest, Lisa) round out the cast. Shutterstock (2)
The I Am Legend actor and wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s Westbrook Studios is teaming up with Universal Television to produce the series. Smith, Cooper, Newson and Brady are all executive producers on the project, as are Terence Carter, James Lassiter, Miguel Melendez, Malcolm Spellman, Quincy Jones, Benny Medina and Andy and Susan Borowitz. Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock
Peacock released its first look at the upcoming series in November 2021. The one-minute teaser painted a much more serious and dramatic picture than fans of the original would recognize. “This is a story,” Smith narrates as the Will character falls backward into a pool with all his clothes on, as pieces of his life in Philadelphia float past him. “All about how my life got flipped, turned upside down.” As Smith continues to speak in a low, strong voice, Will starts swimming toward a golden crown in the water, edging closer and closer to a grand throne. “I looked at my kingdom. I was finally there, to sit on my throne,” he concludes, giving a shout-out to the ‘90s series’ hip-hop theme song. YouTube
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