The first trailer for Bel-Air, the reimagined drama series based on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air sitcom from the 90s, has been revealed. Starring newcomer Jabari Banks as Will, the show is based on Morgan Cooper’s 2019 viral fan film that generated interest in the new take on the series. Cooper also serves as co-writer, director, and executive producer on the show with T.J. Brady and Rasheed Newson serving as showrunners. Will Smith revealed that Banks nabbed the role in a video released by Peacock earlier this summer.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air ran for six seasons from 1990 to 1996, making star Will Smith a household name and opening up the doors to his record-breaking Hollywood career. Smith played a variation of himself in the show, which focused on a street-smart kid from West Philadelphia moving into the wealthy suburbs of Bel-Air with his Aunt and Uncle. The show has been in syndication ever since and is currently streaming on HBO Max, where a Fresh Prince reunion special ran in 2020.
Now, Peacock has revealed the first trailer for the hour-long series, which is set to debut on the streamer in 2022. The show was greenlit with a two-season order, which is meant to be a "dramatic reimagining" of the sitcom, diving deeper into the "inherent conflicts, emotions and biases that were impossible to fully explore in a 30-minute sitcom format, while still delivering swagger and nods to the original show." The high-concept trailer has a number of those nods throughout, and is narrated by Will Smith in a dramatic reading of the original theme song. Check out the trailer below.
Smith, who acts as an executive producer of the show, just released his autobiography, "Will" (which he also reads for the audiobook version), and is currently starring in the bio film King Richard, in theaters and on HBO Max. The actor is also set to appear in the new Disney+ series Welcome To Earth, which will showcase his adventures around the world to explore Earth’s greatest wonders. What's more, he is currently filming the slavery-set drama Emancipation from director Antoine Fuqua.
Fans who grew up with The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air will surely be intrigued by this reimagining of the beloved sitcom, although some may be apprehensive to mix the two, as Bel-Air seems to be going for a more dramatic take, rather than the mostly comedic one that its predecessor was famous for. Banks has some big Jordan's to fill, but he no doubt won over the showrunners to make for a unique and compelling version of Will, which takes the actor's famous first role as The Fresh Prince and expands it into a whole new genre and format.
Source: Peacock