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 is getting the reboot treatment – with a bit of a spin. The modern-day-set series, titled Bel-Air, 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) journey from the “streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air,” but this time it’ll dig deeper into issues like race, class, and sociopolitical issues.
The series is inspired by a viral YouTube trailer created and released by Fresh Prince superfan Morgan Cooperin March 2019, which Will Smith promptly started turning into a real show. The original Fresh Prince is currently available for streaming on Stan, and the reboot will air in the same place. Back in 2020, Smith revealed that the reboot had already been picked up for two seasons, so there are clearly very 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 that actually flourishes in 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
Peacock
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.”
Peacock
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, Akira Akbar, Jimmy Akingbola, Jordan L. Jones, and Simone Joy Jones. The main cast is also joined by a slate of recurring characters played by Karrueche Tran, Duane Martin, April Parker Jones, SteVonté Hart, Joe Holt, Scottie Thompson, Jon Beavers, Tyler Barnhardt, and Charlie Hall.
Getty Images / Kevin Winter
Bel-Air Production Team
Morgan Cooper serves as director, co-writer, 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, Terence Carter, James Lassiter, Miguel Melendez, Malcolm Spellman, Quincy Jones, Benny Medina, and Andy and Susan Borowitz. Bel-Air is produced by Universal Television and Westbrook Studios.
Peacock
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.
