When it was announced that they were making a dramatic retooling of the iconic sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air based on the viral video by Morgan Cooper, I wasn’t fully sold. This morning Peacock released the first full trailer for the one-hour drama titled Bel-Air starring newcomer Jabari Banks in the role made famous by Will Smith and, well, I’m interested.
Per the official description of the show: “Bel-Air imagines the beloved sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air through a new, dramatic take on Will’s complicated journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air. As these two worlds collide, Will reckons with the power of second chances while navigating the conflicts, emotions, and biases of a world far different from the only one he’s ever known.”
It’s like a Fresh Prince multiverse… and we all know multiverses are hot right now. I just wonder if the storylines will parallel the ones we have seen in the original. Like that one time Ashely had a radio hit titled “Gotta Make Up Your Mind” and if Will and Carlton will shoot a Bell Biv DeVoe music video at the house and almost get caught. More importantly, will they incorporate “The Carlton” dance?
Executive produced by Will Smith,Coopes viral trailer that reimagined the iconic, culture-defining ‘90s sitcom,
Bel-Air takes a fresh and raw approach to this world of swagger, style, and aspiration, while exploring Will’s complex journey through a current lens. The new series features an ensemble cast that introduces Jabari Banks as Will and a creative team that
includes Cooper, who serves as director, co-writer, and executive producer, and co-showrunners and executive producers T.J. Brady and Rasheed Newson.
The cast also includes Adrian Holmes as Phillip, Cassandra Freeman as Vivian, Olly Sholotan as Carlton, Coco Jones as Hilary, Akira Akbar as Ashley, Jimmy Akingbola as Geoffrey, Jordan L. Jones as Jazz and Simone Joy Jones as Lisa.
Bel-Air comes from Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith’s Westbrook Studios and Universal Television. T.J. Brady and Rasheed Newson serve as executive producers and co-showrunners. Cooper directs and serves as co-writer and executive producer. Also executive producing are Smith, Terence Carter, James Lassiter, Miguel Melendez, Malcolm Spellman, Quincy Jones, Benny Medina and Andy & Susan Borowitz. Westbrook Studios and Universal TV serve as the studios.
Bel-Air will debut not one, not two but THREE episodes on Super Bowl Sunday, February 13, with new episodes released weekly.
Here’s Cooper’s viral trailer from 2019 that inspired the whole thing for your viewing pleasure:
