The Fresh Prince of Bel Air is one of the most popular and endearing sitcoms ever produced, and it made Will Smith’s career what it is today. Even Will Smith publicly admits that despite the fact that he has done numerous multimillion dollar international films, the thing that he is most well known for is The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Fans of the show laughed hysterically and continued to laugh at the cold wit of Geoffrey the butler, at the constant jabs Will made at the expense of his cousin Carlton’s height, and at Uncle Phil’s attempt to beat the shot put world record whenever he threw Will’s friend Jazz out the front door.
Although The Fresh Prince of Bel Air ended in 1996, episodes continue to circulate on television stations in syndication and streaming platforms. So, with a show that ended on such a high note and remains as popular as it was 30 years ago, many fans are left wondering, why is Peacock making a dramatic remake of one of NBC’s most successful shows?
6 Yes, Will Smith Is A Part Of The Project
For anyone who is skeptical about Bel Air, as understandable as that skepticism is, die hard fans of the show should know that Will Smith is signed on as an executive producer for the show. Perhaps he felt it was time to bring back the series, and because racism is such a heavy topic right now he felt the remake needed to be handled in a less off-beat and more serious manner to better reflect the times. This is understandable and not too far-fetched to believe when one considers how many times the comedy version of the show handled some very intense topics related to racism, topics like gun violence and discrimination.
5 How Do Will Smith’s Former Co-Stars Feel About The Show?
While Will Smith is signed on to the project, his former co-stars of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air have been fairly silent about the remake. Perhaps it is because most of them have moved on, or are no longer with us (RIP Uncle Phil!). Alfonso Ribiero, who played the original Carlton, has said next to nothing about the show, but he is probably more focused on his own projects. Ribiero is currently the host of America's Funniest Home Videos and the gambling show Catch 21.
4 Why Would Peacock Turn A Beloved Comedy Into A Drama?
The question that remains to be answered is why? Why is Will Smith remaking his most famous show, and why is he doing it as a drama? Well, that is a question that Will Smith will have to eventually answer, especially as interviews and promotion for the show begin to ramp up now that the official trailer has been released. Why did Will Smith turn the heartwarming sitcom into a gritty drama? Who knows. Fans will just have to be patient and wait to see.
3 Who Is The Cast Of The New Show?
Prior to the release of the trailer, Will Smith announced the final casting decisions for the show. While most of the other details about the show remain a mystery, we do know that the cast will star some people who have never done a television role before. Will will be played by an actor named Jabari Banks, who is one of the debuting actors, as well as Adrian Holmes as Uncle Phil, Cassandra Freeman as Aunt Vivian, and Olly Sholoton as Carlton to list just a few.
2 What Are The Critics Saying About ‘Bel Air’?
The show will stream on Peacock and the first official trailer has only recently been making the rounds, so a critical review is not quite trustworthy enough, yet. So far, the ultimate consensus is one of confusion and cautious optimism. Diehard fans of the show might not be stoked to see such a funny show be turned into something so gritty, but younger audiences might find that the grittier tone resonates with the serious topics of the show more than the comedy version did. In other words, critical reception is still very conflicted. That said, many fans are also quite vocally opposed to a reboot because the original show ended on a very high-quality note. Many fans worry this reboot will compromise the show's greatness.
1 Who Asked For This 'Fresh Prince Of Bel Air' Remake?
This remains the ultimate question that is driving the above-mentioned skepticism. People not only wonder why Will Smith is remaking The Fresh Prince of Bel Air in such a dark, gritty fashion, but another question that remains to be answered by either Smith or the show’s trailer, is who asked for this? Who is the intended audience for this show? Is this for young people not familiar with the 1990s sitcom? Is it for fans of the original show? Who wanted this besides Will Smith? The longer these questions go unanswered, the more mysterious it seems that the show becomes, and the more the public wonders if this will be a successful reboot or a major flop.