Bel-Air (Peacock) - Drama reboot of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from EP Will Smith
#1
DVD Talk God
Thread Starter
Bel-Air (Peacock) - Drama reboot of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from EP Will Smith
https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/fre...ck-1234762356/
Will Smith made the announcement here:
Will Smith made the announcement here:
Peacock has picked up two seasons of the planned drama series reboot of the classic sitcom “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”
Will Smith made the announcement Tuesday on YouTube, which can be viewed below. The series, titled “Bel-Air,” will be based on Morgan Cooper’s viral video that reimagined the NBC comedy series as a drama. The trailer, which Cooper posted online last year, has racked up over five million views on YouTube alone.
Cooper is attached to co-write and direct the project and will also serve as a co-executive producer. Chris Collins will serve as showrunner and executive producer in addition to co-writing the script with Cooper. Smith will executive produce via Westbrook Studios along with Quincy Jones, Benny Medina, and original series creators Andy and Susan Borowitz. Miguel Melendez and Westbrook Studios’ Terence Carter will also executive produce. Westbrook Studios and Universal Television will produce. UTV was the studio behind the original show as well.
Set in modern-day America, “Bel-Air” is a serialized one-hour dramatic reimagining of the 90’s sitcom that leans into the original premise: Will’s complicated journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air. The series was first announced as being in development last month.
This is not the first classic property that Peacock has offered a new twist on for fans. The streamer is currently developing a reboot of “Battlestar Galactica” and “Queer as Folk,” while a sequel series to “Saved by the Bell” is also set at the streamer. In addition, Variety exclusively reported that a reboot of “Clueless” told from Dionne’s perspective is in the works at Peacock.
News of the series order comes just over a week after it was announced that HBO Max is set to air an unscripted “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” reunion special. That special will feature Smith and series regulars Tatyana Ali, Karyn Parsons, Joseph Marcell, Daphne Maxwell Reid, and Alfonso Ribeiro, as will DJ Jazzy Jeff. It is set to tape on Sept. 10 and is slated to debut on HBO Max around Thanksgiving. HBO Max is the exclusive streaming home of the entire run of the original show.
Will Smith made the announcement Tuesday on YouTube, which can be viewed below. The series, titled “Bel-Air,” will be based on Morgan Cooper’s viral video that reimagined the NBC comedy series as a drama. The trailer, which Cooper posted online last year, has racked up over five million views on YouTube alone.
Cooper is attached to co-write and direct the project and will also serve as a co-executive producer. Chris Collins will serve as showrunner and executive producer in addition to co-writing the script with Cooper. Smith will executive produce via Westbrook Studios along with Quincy Jones, Benny Medina, and original series creators Andy and Susan Borowitz. Miguel Melendez and Westbrook Studios’ Terence Carter will also executive produce. Westbrook Studios and Universal Television will produce. UTV was the studio behind the original show as well.
Set in modern-day America, “Bel-Air” is a serialized one-hour dramatic reimagining of the 90’s sitcom that leans into the original premise: Will’s complicated journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air. The series was first announced as being in development last month.
This is not the first classic property that Peacock has offered a new twist on for fans. The streamer is currently developing a reboot of “Battlestar Galactica” and “Queer as Folk,” while a sequel series to “Saved by the Bell” is also set at the streamer. In addition, Variety exclusively reported that a reboot of “Clueless” told from Dionne’s perspective is in the works at Peacock.
News of the series order comes just over a week after it was announced that HBO Max is set to air an unscripted “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” reunion special. That special will feature Smith and series regulars Tatyana Ali, Karyn Parsons, Joseph Marcell, Daphne Maxwell Reid, and Alfonso Ribeiro, as will DJ Jazzy Jeff. It is set to tape on Sept. 10 and is slated to debut on HBO Max around Thanksgiving. HBO Max is the exclusive streaming home of the entire run of the original show.
#2
DVD Talk God
Thread Starter
re: Bel-Air (Peacock) - Drama reboot of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from EP Will Smith
Here's the concept trailer that this was based on.
#3
DVD Talk Legend
re: Bel-Air (Peacock) - Drama reboot of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from EP Will Smith
Strange when hearing it’s based off of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, but the concept trailer looks good. The premise of Will’s character before getting to Bel-Air has potential to be an interesting story. Still may be jarring to get used to though.
#4
re: Bel-Air (Peacock) - Drama reboot of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from EP Will Smith
I'm doing a watch-through of The Fresh Prince on HBO Max and loving the nostalgia. I'm down for this too.
#5
Inane Thread Master, 2018 TOTY
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Are any of us really anywhere?
Posts: 49,418
Received 907 Likes
on
767 Posts
re: Bel-Air (Peacock) - Drama reboot of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from EP Will Smith
So in this one will Uncle Phil steal the car and pick up Will at the airport?
#6
Banned by request
re: Bel-Air (Peacock) - Drama reboot of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from EP Will Smith
So I’m guessing this is HBO Max’s thing? Just reunions and reboots? I’m glad I’m not paying for it, I haven’t watched anything besides Bugs Bunny. Although I’ll have to hit Raised by Wolves, but that’s it for now.
#7
DVD Talk God
Thread Starter
re: Bel-Air (Peacock) - Drama reboot of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from EP Will Smith
#8
DVD Talk Hero
re: Bel-Air (Peacock) - Drama reboot of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from EP Will Smith
Based on the concept trailer, this could actually be good although listening to the actors in a serious show use the original character names seems strange and makes it sound like a parody. I think those names are just too engrained in the sitcom.
And I know the theme song lyrics talk about hitting the guy with a basketball on accident but wasn’t the real reason Will went to Bel-Air in the show just so he could have access to a better education*?
*I know one episode later isn’t he series acknowledges the bully hit with a basketball but I think that was more a slight story change as a wink to the audience.
And I know the theme song lyrics talk about hitting the guy with a basketball on accident but wasn’t the real reason Will went to Bel-Air in the show just so he could have access to a better education*?
*I know one episode later isn’t he series acknowledges the bully hit with a basketball but I think that was more a slight story change as a wink to the audience.
#9
DVD Talk Godfather
re: Bel-Air (Peacock) - Drama reboot of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from EP Will Smith
Does the concept trailer have anything to do with this at all? Looks like a fan made "what if" genre swap thing.
It's well made though and definitely "proof of concept."
It's well made though and definitely "proof of concept."
#11
DVD Talk God
Thread Starter
re: Bel-Air (Peacock) - Drama reboot of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from EP Will Smith
The guy who wrote and directed the concept trailer is the Executive Producer and Writer for this series. It's in the 1st post and he appears in the video with Will making the announcement that I posted.
#12
DVD Talk God
Thread Starter
re: Bel-Air (Peacock) - Drama reboot of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from EP Will Smith
Newcomer Jabari Banks chosen to play "Will"
Last I read this won't air until sometime in 2022.
#13
DVD Talk Hero
re: Bel-Air (Peacock) - Drama reboot of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from EP Will Smith
So is going to be like the Kevin Can Fuck Himself "real life" parts?
#14
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
re: Bel-Air (Peacock) - Drama reboot of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from EP Will Smith
It’s too bad this year’s convention got canceled due to COVID. I would have loved hearing others’ thoughts on the new series.
#15
re: Bel-Air (Peacock) - Drama reboot of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from EP Will Smith
#16
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
re: Bel-Air (Peacock) - Drama reboot of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from EP Will Smith
Okay, that was...odd. I never watched the show from beginning to end, but I have probably seen at least 20-25% of the episodes that aired over the course of the past 10 years through re-reruns on tv/basic cable and am still curious about this reboot/reimagining of the show.
#17
DVD Talk Hero
re: Bel-Air (Peacock) - Drama reboot of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from EP Will Smith
I was hoping to hear Smith recite the line, “…yo homie smell you later.” in a serious tone.
Maybe in the next promo…
Maybe in the next promo…
#18
Suspended
re: Bel-Air (Peacock) - Drama reboot of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from EP Will Smith
Okay, that was...odd. I never watched the show from beginning to end, but I have probably seen at least 20-25% of the episodes that aired over the course of the past 10 years through re-reruns on tv/basic cable and am still curious about this reboot/reimagining of the show.
#19
DVD Talk Hero
re: Bel-Air (Peacock) - Drama reboot of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from EP Will Smith
#21
re: Bel-Air (Peacock) - Drama reboot of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from EP Will Smith
If I want to see a dramatic version of the Bel-Air, I watch The OC. It's basically the same concept without copying the story beats. This look awful.
#23
DVD Talk Legend
re: Bel-Air (Peacock) - Drama reboot of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from EP Will Smith
Seriously, if the original didn't exist - I can honestly see an audience for this and it thriving.
I think this being a reboot will hurt it more than help it.
I have no interest in this in either scenario regardless.
I think this being a reboot will hurt it more than help it.
I have no interest in this in either scenario regardless.
#24
DVD Talk Hero
re: Bel-Air (Peacock) - Drama reboot of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from EP Will Smith
And based on that trailer, it looks like they’re lifting story ideas straight out of the sitcom. From the Philly school yard stuff to Will’s success on Bel-Air Academy’s basketball team. They even have a part where Will flips his school blazer inside out.
#25
DVD Talk Legend
re: Bel-Air (Peacock) - Drama reboot of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from EP Will Smith