Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers for episodes 1-3 of “Bel-Air,” which is currently available on Peacock.
For the past three years, Jabari Banks has played Will in Peacock’s reboot of the hit ’90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, the legendary role created by Will Smith.
“He was a guiding force and light throughout this whole experience,” Banks says of working with Smith. “We rarely talked about characters, but we did talk about the industry and my career. That was the most impactful conversation I had with him.”
Banks reflected on her experience on the last day of filming, saying, “I shed a lot of tears and looked back on my memories. It’s like graduating from high school. When it’s time to say goodbye, it sucks.”
In an industry that thrives on nostalgia, reboots often miss the mark by failing to offer a fresh, modern take on the original story. In a landscape dominated by remakes, Peacock’s “Bel-Air” is one of the few shows to get it right.
And it all started with a viral mock trailer from “Bel-Air” creator Morgan Cooper.
In 2019, Cooper created a nearly four-minute trailer that reimagined The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as a gritty drama that garnered millions of views on YouTube. Less than 24 hours later, Cooper met with Smith and his production company, Westbrook, who were interested in turning Cooper’s reimagining of the old sitcom into a more serious drama.
The series maintains the humor and family bond between Will and the Banks family, but deviates from the half-hour format of the original sitcom to become an hour-long series that explores class disparities, sexuality, institutionalized racism, mental health, and identity in more depth than the ’90s sitcoms.
Anne Marie Fox/PEACOCK
In the fourth and final season, with the first three episodes premiering on November 24, Will enters his senior year trying to figure out his future, while Carlton (Oli Cholotan) deals with the weight of difficult decisions that put his future at risk.
Meanwhile, the brotherly relationship between Phil (Adrian Holmes) and Jeffrey (Jimmy Akingbola) is strained as their loyalties are tested by an unexpected change in government. Viv (Cassandra Freeman) struggles to reinvent herself while welcoming a new child into the Banks family. Ashley (Akira Akbar) faces challenges in her freshman year of high school, while Hilary (Coco Jones) focuses on self-healing after the death of her husband.
The first few episodes begin with the trauma affecting Will’s daily life since he was kidnapped and returned home. Rather than seek professional help to process his trauma, Will continues on a quest to track down the kidnapper and his family’s butler, Jeffrey, who led to Will’s kidnapping.
“Will is a very spontaneous and short-tempered guy, but he’s also a protector of his family,” Banks says. “Knowing that Jeffrey is gone is not good for his psyche. He is not going to wait for someone to help him in this situation.”
Obsessed with finding the kidnapper, he reaches a destination where he discovers the same car used in the kidnapping. With Carlton’s help, Will retaliates using a baseball bat and attempts to destroy the car beyond repair.
“Crashing the car was a sign that he was reclaiming his power and releasing pent-up emotions,” Banks says. “No one seems to care that Jeffrey is gone. When they found the car that Jeffrey had been thrown into, it was the perfect thing to vent their anger on.”
Will’s defiance is not surprising, but helping Carlton destroy the car is out of character for him, who usually follows the rules. Carlton often clings to authority, a tendency that clashed with his cousin’s rebellious nature in early seasons. But expanding their relationship from “enemies” to “brothers” is one of Banks’ favorite storylines to bring Shorotan to life.
“The biggest lesson from Will and Carlton is to see the other person’s perspective and take the time to get to know them, even if you don’t agree with their position on certain things,” Banks says. “They’ve had time to argue about certain points, and they know that sometimes they may not understand, but they love that person just for who they are.”
Anne Marie Fox/PEACOCK
Throughout the series, “Bel Air” has featured cameos from celebrities from all over Hollywood. The final season will introduce new characters played by “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” alums Janet Hubert, Tyra Banks and Snoop Dogg. Banks is also a musician who recently released her debut EP, Ultra, and was particularly excited to perform with Snoop Dogg.
“He was very cool, calm, friendly and personable,” Banks said. “He had a two-page monologue and didn’t skip a word. That was great to see his level of professionalism. That’s why his career has had such longevity, and it was inspiring to watch. Whether it’s music or acting, he shows up ready.”
Another inspiration the actors got a chance to work with is Marlon Wayans, who first appeared in the Season 1 finale as Will’s estranged father Lou. Throughout the series, Banks and Wayans have portrayed the complexities of father and son reconnecting.
Anne Marie Fox/PEACOCK
Season 4 marks a turning point in their relationship after Will calls Lou “dad” for the first time, going through their ups and downs.
“He (Will) never had a chance to say those words,” Banks said. “As he and Lou grow closer, it slips away. It shows Will starting to feel secure and open to his father, which is great.”
Despite playing her character’s father on screen, Banks describes Wayans as like a “big brother” who gave her direction and guidance off-camera. “He plays my father, but he definitely feels like an older brother. He’s been very protective of me, both when we talk about the show and when we talk about life.”
As Banks took his final bow as Will, he said the most rewarding part of breathing new life into the beloved sitcom was connecting with fans old and new.
“People of all ages and demographics love this game,” he says. “It’s great to be able to bring communities together over a shared love of television and culture. We’re so happy that our fans love the show.”
