An upcoming episode of Peacock's new show Bel-Air sees the original The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air cast reuniting in special guest-star appearances. The series adapts material from both the original show and, in particular, the short fan trailer of the same name uploaded to YouTube in 2019. Writer and director of this acclaimed short film, Morgan Cooper, began developing the show after The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star Will Smith himself expressed admiration of his work and an interest in the development of a reboot in the re-imagined dramatic styling of Cooper's short film. The two now co-executive produce on the show.
Enthusiastic anticipation for Bel-Air notably incited a bidding war last year between Netflix, HBO, and Peacock over rights to the production and release of the show, competition which further confirmed belief in the show's great potential to live up to the impressive precedent set by its source material. The latter of the three networks, of course, ended up claiming the prize, and episode 1 of the series, titled "Dreams and Nightmares," premiered on Peacock on February 22, 2022. So far, Bel-Air has enjoyed positive reviews in response to the six episodes currently available for streaming
According to a recent press release from Peacock, the 9th episode of Bel-Air features members of the original cast of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in guest-starring appearances. Daphne Maxwell Reid, who played Vivian Banks in the original show, and Vernee Watson-Johnson, who played recurring character Viola "Vy" Smith, will reportedly play members of the Art Council Board of Trustee at Will's school. Much to the delight of fans of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as well as curious younger viewers intrigued by the new show's inspiration, this upcoming episode of Bel-Air featuring Reid and Watson-Johnson will be available for streaming on Peacock on March 24, 2022. Check out the photos of Watson-Johnson and Smith from the upcoming episode below:
The sitcom, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, first premiered on NBC in September 1990 and ran for six seasons, finally airing its last episode in May 1996. Featuring a fresh-faced Will Smith playing a fictionalized version of himself that also loosely adapts the rags-to-riches life story of record-executive Benny Medina, the show follows street-smart teenager Will as he hilariously navigates a relocation from his working-class family in West Philadelphia to the rich socialite world of the elite Bel-Air neighborhood in which his aunt and uncle reside. The show's engaging swagger, savvy cultural commentary, and celebrity appearances defined the first half of the 1990s and cemented its place in acclaimed television history. Seeing the stars now re-contextualized in the updated style and perspective tone of Bel-Air alongside the series regulars, which includes dynamic newcomer and West Philly native Jabari Banks playing the emblematic character of Will, excitingly pays homage to the original show while retaining fidelity to the new show's artistic vision.
The involvement of the original cast in Bel-Air speaks to the reverence the cast holds for the legacy of the culture-defining show they originally starred in and its contemporary iterations. Moreover, the excitement and publicity buzz around both Cooper's short film and the new show it inspired, reflects a similar cultural reverence for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air held by the public. Subsequently, Bel-Air holds in its grasp the attention and trust of two generations of viewers – those who grew up with the show and those who grew up surrounded by the post-show nostalgia maintained by The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air's impactful memory. In collaborating with members of the original cast for its 9th episode, Bel-Air shows a mindfulness of this uniquely evocative, inherited power.
Source: Peacock