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The "Bel-Air" Reboot Promises Lots of Drama and a Dark Twist in New Teaser

Jan 26 2022 - 12:35pm

There's a new Prince of Bel-Air in town, and we're not mad about it! NBC's beloved comedy "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" [1] is getting the reboot treatment — with a bit of a spin. The modern-day-set series, titled "Bel-Air," [2] is an hour-long show that nods to the same swagger from the original '90s sitcom, but with a dramatic twist. The new show will once again explore Will's (Jabari Banks [3]) journey from the "streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air" — but this time, it'll dig deeper into subjects like race, class, and sociopolitical issues.

The series is inspired by a viral YouTube trailer [4] created and released by "Fresh Prince" superfan Morgan Cooper in March 2019, which Will Smith [5] promptly started turning into a real show [6]. The original "Fresh Prince" is currently available to stream on HBO Max [7], but the reboot will air on NBC's Peacock on Feb. 13. Back in 2020, Smith revealed that the reboot had already been picked up for two seasons by the streamer, so there are clearly high expectations for the drama.

There's no telling how "Bel-Air" will match up to the original sitcom, but it could be one of the few reboots [8] that actually flourishes outside the shadow of its predecessor. Ahead, get all the details you'll want about the new series, including the plot, stacked cast, and trailers.

Additional reporting by Njera Perkins [9]

"Bel-Air" Plot

"Bel-Air" is a contemporary series with the same premise as the original '90s sitcom. It follows Will Smith (played by Jabari Banks) as he escapes the perils of West Philadelphia and seeks safety from his wealthy family members, the Banks, in Bel-Air. As Will's two worlds collide, he'll face "conflicts, emotions, and biases of a world far different from the only one he's ever known."

"Bel-Air" Cast

The cast of "Bel-Air" includes a host of talented newcomers and seasoned vets — including series regulars Jabari Banks, Adrian Holmes, Cassandra Freeman, Olly Sholotan, Coco Jones [11], Akira Akbar, Jimmy Akingbola, Jordan L. Jones, and Simone Joy Jones. The main cast is joined by a slate of recurring characters played by Karrueche Tran [12], Duane Martin, April Parker Jones, SteVonté Hart, Joe Holt, Scottie Thompson, Jon Beavers, Tyler Barnhardt, and Charlie Hall.

"Bel-Air" Production Team

Morgan Cooper serves as director, cowriter, and executive producer of "Bel-Air," with T.J. Brady and Rasheed Newson joining him as executive producers and co-showrunners. Other executive producers for the reboot series include Will Smith [13], Terence Carter, James Lassiter, Miguel Melendez, Malcolm Spellman, Quincy Jones [14], Benny Medina, and Andy and Susan Borowitz. "Bel-Air" is produced by Universal Television and Westbrook Studios.

"Bel-Air" Premiere Date

"Bel-Air" will premiere on Peacock on Super Bowl Sunday (Feb. 13) with three episodes to kick off the season. New episodes will be released on a weekly basis.

"Bel-Air" Poster

"Bel-Air" Trailer

"Bel-Air" Teaser


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