The iconic Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is set to return to our screens and it’s a piece of news that’s made our day. Set in modern-day America, the reboot of the 1990s hit is a departure from the original, as it takes on a more serious tone with lots of drama and new cast members as well. We can expect a deeper look into the lead character Will Smith’s life, played by newcomer Jabari Banks, as he embarks on a new life having shifted from West Philadelphia to Bel-Air. The new series is set to drop on Super Bowl Sunday, February 13, 2022 on Peacock, NBC’s streaming service.
There were enough hints for fans to realize a reboot was in the works. The first was in 2019, when Morgan Cooper—who directed, co-wrote the new series—posted a fan trailer (see video below) that looked at Will’s character through a dramatic and dark lens. It was well received and it definitely got viewers excited.
In 2021, an early teaser for the Peacock series was released and it had the original star, Will Smith, giving a dramatic reading of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Theme Song”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKYfwATqaBc&t=43s
“The intention behind the dramatization of the beloved and formerly lighthearted show premise is to “really peel back the layers of these characters and themes in a way that you simply couldn’t do 30 years ago in the half-hour sitcom format,” Cooper—who is also the co-executive producer of the show—said in a statement.
The official trailer was shared by Smith and Cooper.
“3 years ago, my guy Morgan Cooper uploaded his fan trailer to YouTube, showing how he envisioned the Fresh Prince as a drama. Now, here is the first full look at his retelling of the story that’s always been so close to my heart,” wrote Smith in a note.
Smith continues his association with the show as an executive producer and is joined by Quincy Jones, original creators Andy and Susan Borowitz, and producer-manager Benny Medina, who was the inspiration for the 1990s show. The show will explore the power of second chances, as we see the main character make an escape to Bel-Air and navigate real-life issues and biases that were until now unknown to him.
The original Fresh Prince of Bel-Air ran from 1990 to 1996, and in more good news, the reboot has already been renewed for a second season.
