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 journey from Philadelphia to Los Angeles, the Peacock series is set to give the story a modern-day twist.
BEL-AIR: Cast and Plot!
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.
“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 press 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.”
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.
BEL-AIR: Trailer and Release Date!
Check out the official trailer of BEL-AIR here:
Season 1 of BEL-AIR will premiere on Peacock sometime in 2022.