Newcomer Jabari Banks will lead Peacock’s reboot of the ’90s iconic sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The streamer made the announcement on YouTube earlier this week with the help of Will Smith, the star of the original show.
The clip posted by Peacock shows Smith calling Banks on Zoom to deliver him the news.
“It is an absolute pleasure to meet you, to be on with you, and from the deepest parts of my heart I want to say congratulations to you,” Smith tells Banks in the video. “You have the role of Will on Bel-Air.”
After catching his breath from the excitement, Banks revealed to Smith that he actually pursued the role after his father saw an article about the series and suggested it.
The role will be Banks’ acting debut. He is a Philadelphia native, just like his character Will, and described by Deadline as an “accomplished songwriter, singer, rapper, and basketball player.”
Unlike the original sitcom, Bel-Air will lean more towards drama and will have an hour-long format. It has a modern-day setting and follows “Will’s complicated journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air.”
The series, which received a two-season order at Peacock, is based on a short video made by writer-director Morgan Cooper. The clip captured the attention of Will Smith, who liked the idea and decided to help Cooper turn it into a full project. Cooper will serve as a director and co-writer on the show while also executive producing the project alongside Smith.
