‘Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ drama reboot to stream on Peacock
Will Smith said the reboot is an 'unprecedented two-season order based on a pitch.'
The dramatic reimagining of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from director Morgan Cooper and executive producer Will Smith has been given a two-season order at Peacock.
After a reported bidding war the streaming service is developing the hour-long series titled Bel-Air, which is based on Cooper’s popular concept trailer that caught the attention of Smith in 2019, Shadow and Act reports.
The project is described as a dramatic retelling “that leans into the original premise of Will’s complicated journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air. With a reimagined vision, Bel-Air will dive deeper into the inherent conflicts, emotions and biases of what it means to be a Black man in America today, while still delivering the swagger and fun nods to the original show.”
Read More: Will Smith to produce dramatic reboot of ‘Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’
Smith announced the news in a YouTube video on Monday, calling it an “unprecedented two-season order based on a pitch.”
In the video, he said, “We have just officially closed the deal with Peacock with an unprecedented two-season-order from a pitch,” the actor shared. “I’ve been in this business for thirty years and that does not happen. They ordered two full seasons of Bel-Air based on the quality of the pitch and the work that you guys have done. So I want to say congratulations. I am hyped.”
Watch Smith’s announcement via the clip above.
Quincy Jones along with show creators Susan and Andy Borowitz are onboard for the new series, theGRIO previously reported.
Last year, Smith met Cooper and interviewed him for his YouTube channel.
“That’s an idea that is brilliant,” Smith told Cooper about the trailer.
When asked about his inspiration, Cooper explained, “I grew up watching the show since I was 5,” he told Smith. “I remember seeing what you did onscreen so it’s always been a part of me. I remember driving down 71 in Kansas City and I was just thinking about the show. I remember driving under this overpass and when I came out, I had the idea. It hit me like a ton of bricks and I knew I had to tell the story.”
Watch Cooper’s trailer below:
Bel-Air will be co-produced by Smith’s Westbrook Studio and Universal TV.
Smith’s Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air sitcom ran for six seasons in the 90’s on NBC.
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