The first teaser for Peacock's 'Bel-Air' also features the original show's iconic theme song, but instead of rapping it, Will Smith narrates it in voiceover.
- Nov 24, 2021
AceShowbiz - The first teaser for "Bel-Air" is here. On Tuesday, November 23, Peacock released the teaser for the reboot of Will Smith-starring iconic sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air".
The teaser opens with Will (Jabari Banks) falling into a pool. He's then surrounded by pieces of his life in Philadelphia, including basketballs and a trophy. He is surprised when he finds a crown among them. As he tries to grab the crown, he sees a throne chair. He naturally sits on it, taking his place on the throne as the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
The new video also features the original show's iconic theme song. However, instead of rapping it, Smith narrates it in voiceover. "This is a story all about my life got flipped, turned upside down," he says. "I looked at my kingdom. I was finally there to sit on my throne."
In a new press release, showrunners T.J. Brady and Rasheed Newson said, "At its heart, 'Bel-Air' is a coming-of-age story that celebrates the strength and love of the black family. We have stayed true to the original premise of the legacy series - Will's life is turned upside down after he is forced to leave West Philly and lands in Bel-Air with its gated mansions and wealth, however, our new series brings Will and the Banks family into the world as we know it now."
The statement continued, "It's been incredible to bring these iconic characters to life when you tap them into the cultural pulse of our time. The series was the fabric of so many of our upbringings, tied to memories and the joy of seeing ourselves represented on TV so it is important to us to pay respect to its legacy."
Of Banks, the co-showrunners said, "Well, did we ever find him. His name is Jabari Banks and he won our hearts in the same way he won this role. Our creative team, including Will Smith, recognized that Jabari embodied the talent, charisma, and sheer swagger necessary to make this iconic role his own."
In a separate statement, Bel-Air director and co-writer Morgan Cooper elaborated his approach to transforming a half-hour sitcom into an hour-long 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," he explained. "We're able to go 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" also stars Adrian Holmes as Uncle Phil, Cassandra Freeman as Aunt Viv, and Jordan L. Jones as Will's best pal, Jazz. The show is set to premiere in 2022 on Peacock.
