Will Smithknows how to Internet. While the “untouchable movie star” run of the 1990s has come and gone, Smith has pivoted to our new way of getting entertainment content with aplomb, regularly updating his social media channels with easily viral clips, stories, and perfectly packaged aesthetics. Thus, it’s both surprising and completely inevitable that Smith is directly involved withBel-Air, an hour-long reboot of his ownThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Airinspired by a viral fan-trailer made in 2019 — and that it’s coming to Peacock.
This trailer, made impeccably by writer, director, and DPMorganCooper, captured the hearts and imaginations of the entire damn Internet, and for Smith to hop on it officially to help turn it into a series is the latest in his many net-savvy moves.Bel-Airwill air on Peacock (not, curiously, HBO Max, where the original series library lives) for at least two seasons, picking up both in its initial order. Cooper himself will direct, co-write and co-executive produce alongside showrunner, writer, and co-executive producerChris Collins(The Wire). Universal Television and Will andJada Pinkett Smith’s Westbrook Studios is behind the show, alongside executive producersTerence Carter,James Lassiter(Cobra Kai),Miguel Melendez(Red Table Talk), and original series producersQuincy Jones,Benny Medina, andAndy&Susan Borowitz. No word on casting just yet, but if they don’t keepJerry Madisonas Will and get some original cast members new roles, I’ll lose my dang gourd!
So whatwillthis new series look like? It’ll be an hour, be set in modern-day America, have a focus on a serialized arc, be explicitly dramatic “while still delivering swagger and nods to the original show,” and mine the original premise of a “complicated journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air” for more incisive, exacting, sociological examinations. And while I’m pretty rebooted out, especially of properties that were so special to me likeFresh Princewas, this new take does sound imaginative and different enough, and the retroactive sizzle reel shows enough promise in its storytelling and filmmaking panache, that I’ll be giving this a try.
Bel-Air’s first two seasons will be coming to Peacock sometime in the future. Check out Smith’s announcement video and the originalBel-Airtrailer below. For more on the series, here’snews on the unscripted reunion special coming to HBO Max.
