The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is officially set to make its return to ‘tv’ following the release of its trailer on Monday and will be aired on NBC’s streaming platform Peacock.
The iconic 1990’s sit-com that starred Will Smith, depicting a mainly humorous reflection of his upbringings will seemingly take a grittier reality of the main character’s life.
“Set in modern-day America, Peacock’s new one-hour drama series Bel-Air reimagines the beloved sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air through a new, dramatic take on Will’s complicated journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air,” a synopsis for the show on YouTube reads.
The trailer, which shows ‘Will’, now played by Jabari Banks, fired gunshots into the sky, before being arrested by police officers. A departure from the character’s original peaceful and jovial demeanor.
The reboot also previews someone from his hometown wanting him dead, which presents the catalyst for his move to Bel-Air.
The updated drama also sees changes to the profiles of some of the beloved characters, including Aunt Viv, who presents a much younger reprise of the character, so, to that of Uncle Phil. The beloved character now played by Adrian Holmes also depicts a more youthful representation of the patriarchal father figure.
One of the more notable changes, however, is Carlton. The dorky, uppity by-the-book cousin, who was played by Alfonso Ribeiro, is replaced by a less socially awkward reprise of the character by Olly Sholotan.
The update seems to be aiming at a modern take of what it would be like in current social dynamics, which is sure to resonate with fans from both original and the newer generations.
The preview for the Will Smith-produced reboot has garnered over a million views in its release on YouTube on Monday. It’s set for a February 13, stream date.