New Trailer for THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR Drama Reboot BEL-AIR
Peacock has released another trailer for the upcoming series Bel-Air. Reimagining the classic ‘90s series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as a more realistic drama is an interesting idea, and it looks like it’s actually going to be a great series. It looks much better than I thought it would be.
Will Smith produces the series. He saw the potential that the concept had and pushed it forward. Jabari Banks takes on the role of Will in the series, who is sent to stay with his Aunt Viv (Cassandra Freeman) and Uncle Phil (Adrian Holmes) in Bel-Air for a fresh start when a couple of guys started making trouble in his neighborhood. Everything changes for Will when he gets to Bel-Air.
Set in modern-day America, “Bel-Air is a serialized one-hour dramatic analogue of the ‘90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air that leans into the original premise: Will’s complicated journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air. With a reimagined vision, Bel-Air will dive 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.”
Bel-Air is coming to Peacock on February 13th, and I’m looking forward to watching it.
T.J. Brady and Rasheed Newson, Executive Producers and Co-Showrunners, previously said, “At its heart, Bel-Air is a coming-of-age story that celebrates the strength and love of the Black family. 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, however, our new series brings Will and the Banks family into the world as we know it now. It's been incredible to bring these iconic characters to life when you tap them into the cultural pulse of our time. The series was the fabric of so many of our upbringings, tied to memories and the joy of seeing ourselves represented on TV so it is important to us to pay respect to its legacy.”
Morgan Cooper, Director, Co-Writer, Executive Producer, “With this dramatic reimagining, we wanted to create a show that stands on its own while honoring the spirit and innovation of the original series. Because Bel-Air is a drama, we're able 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. We're able to go have tough conversations that challenge perspectives. At its core, Bel-Air is a celebration of the black experience through the perspective of a family.
“My approach to the series started with a deep focus on tone and really being intentional with my creative choices. I'm inspired by a lot of things as a director; it could be a random conversation, memories from my past, it could be art, music, fashion. Everything can be inspiration, and having a two-season order gives us the opportunity to go infinitely deeper narratively, visually, and aesthetically. I think that with Bel-Air we have created something unique and honest. “