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Peacock has released the first “early” teaser for its upcoming dramatic re-interpretation of the popular ’90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Titled simply Bel-Air, the series is slated to hit the streaming service sometime in 2022.
The show is set to deviate from what you might expect with a TV show revival or reboot. A synopsis for the series indicates that Bel-Air will lean into the original premise, while also making some changes: “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.” Check out the teaser below.
In August, Bel-Air got new co-showrunners in T.J. Brady (The 100) and Rasheed Newson (Narcos). Earlier this year, Chris Collins (The Wire) stepped down from his post as showrunner and executive producer on the series–and it’s unclear what role or involvement Collins might subsequently have with the series.
The concept originated from a four-minute viral clip that was originally posted in March 2019 by Kansas City filmmaker Morgan Cooper. The clip quickly picked up steam and turned out to be a breakthrough video for Cooper, who has been collaborating with Will Smith on the series.
Bel-Air stars newcomer Jabari Banks as Will, Adrian Holmes as Phillip Banks (At That Age, V Wars), Cassandra Freeman as Vivian Banks (The Enemy Within, Atlanta), Olly Sholotan as Carlton Banks (Run Hide Fight, Evolution of Nate Gibson), Coco Jones as Hilary Banks (Let it Shine, Vampires vs. The Bronx), Akira Akbar as Ashley Banks (We Can Be Heroes, Captain Marvel), Jimmy Akingbola as Geoffrey (Most Dangerous Game, In The Long Run), Jordan L. Jones as Jazz (Rel, Snowfall), and Simone Joy Jones as Lisa (The Chair, What If). The series is filmed on location both in Los Angeles and Philadelphia.
