The Fresh Prince is Dramatically Reimagined in New 'Bel-Air' Trailer
Morgan Cooper’s 2019 viral video, which reimagined Will Smith’s The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air into a powerfully complicated drama, now has an official trailer to go with its Super Bowl Sunday premiere date.
Set in modern-day America, Jabari Banks steps into the high-top sneakers of “Will,” as Bel-Air unveils itself as a one-hour drama series. According to a synopsis, the reimagined series will take audiences on a journey from Will’s West Philadelphia streets to the gated mansion of Bel-Air.
“As these two worlds collide, Will reckons with the power of second chances while navigating the conflicts, emotions, and biases of a world far different from the only one he’s ever known,” a press release states.
“One little fight,” now means so much more as the stakes that set Will's story into motion are heightened. Bel-Air decidedly leans into the drama. The trailer's punchy moments — filled with intense stares, hidden backstories, and comedic flashes — play up to the energy delivered initially in Cooper's 2019 clip.
With Bel-Air diving into the inherent conflicts that were impossible to fully explore in a 30-minute sitcom format, this show is banking big on the swagger from the original show to still resonate with a new audience.
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The trailer also gives viewers their first looks at the entire cast of co-stars joining Banks in taking on the iconic roles of Uncle Phil (Adrian Holmes), Geoffrey (Jimmy Akingbola), Aunt Viv (Cassandra Freeman), Hilary (Coco Jones), Jazz (Jordan L. Jones), Lisa (Simone Joy Jones), Ashley (Akira Akbar) and Carlton (Olly Sholotan).
Executive produced by Will Smith, Bel-Air is directed, co-written and co-executive produced by Cooper, who also wrote and directed the 2019 four-minute spec trailer.
“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,” Cooper said in a press release. “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 have tough conversations that challenge perspectives. At its core, Bel-Air is a celebration of the black experience through the perspective of a family.”
Bel-Air will premiere on Feb.13 (yes, on Super Bowl Sunday), with the first three episodes launching and new episodes released weekly.
Watch the full trailer for yourself below:
