Well, this is a story all about how The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air turned upside down… into a dramatic reimagining of the former TV show.
Will Smith, who played, well, Will Smith in the 90s series, has teamed up with Morgan Cooper for a new series, Bel-Air.
The concept is based on a viral YouTube trailer by Cooper, which was released in 2019 and looked at what would happen if Smith made The Fresh Prince today.
“Bel-Air, a story of a kid from Philly whose life got turned upside-down… in 2019,” the caption for the trailer read.
Cooper will co-write the script, direct and be credited as a co-executive producer — all after gaining the attention of Smith with his imaginative take on the series. Can you imagine getting that phone call?
The series is described as an hourlong dramatic retelling of the beloved ’90s sitcom that leans into the original premise of Will’s complicated journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Bel-Air is being shopped to streaming networks and will be a co-production between Smith’s Westbrook Studios and Universal TV — the giants behind the original series.
It will also “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.”
The series ran from 1990 – 1996, turning Smith into a household name. He co-produced alongside Quincy Jones, Benny Medina and creators Andy & Susan Borowitz, all of whom have signed on to this next project.
Alongside Smith, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air starred the late James Avery, Alfonso Ribeiro, Karyn Parsons, Tatyana M. Ali, Joseph Marcell and Janet Hubert-Whitten/Daphne Maxwell Reid.
There is no news on whether any of the cast will return, but we’re expecting a few cameos.