The TV series takes shape: it will be a more dramatic remake of the '90s hit. The Peacock network that planned the reboot reveals the performers
The Peacock TV platform is faithful to the promises made on several projects including the remake of one of the most famous and followed sitcoms of the 90s: Willy the Prince of Bel Air. A few weeks ago we talked about this new platform that lands in Italy with important news and titles for everyone with reduced or zero costs. Now we also have a good reason to try it.
Thanks to Peacock, in fact, we will review in a modern key one of the TV series that has characterized an entire generation, that of the nineties. Willy the Prince of Bel Air is one of the ambitious projects of the platform: the series aired between 1990 and 1996 on NBC is, for the few who do not know it, focused on the adventures of Willy, a nice and spontaneous boy from Philadelphia who finds himself living with his rich relatives in a villa in Bel Air, one of the most exclusive neighborhoods of Los Angeles in California. The series launched one of the most internationally known, appreciated and paid actors: Will Smith.
Bel-Air the protagonist
The remake that the platform is working on will simply be called Bel-.Air and will have in the shoes of the protagonist Willy, covered by Smith in the distant '90s, a newcomer exactly like him so many years ago: Jabari Banks. Just like the Prince of Bel Air, Jabari Banks is originally from Philadelphia and studied at the university of the same name, graduating in fine arts: he sings, dances and acts with great enthusiasm. He reminds us a lot of Will Smith who, during a very personal official video call, gave Jabari the news that he got the part.
We know very little about him. His father is the one who spurred him to show up for auditions and he released a song on Spotify in 2018 called Snack. His agent is aiming high and he's sure he'll go a long way in show business: the Bel Air showcase is definitely an important starting point.
Cast and release of the TV series
Adrian Holmes will play the role of Phillip Banks and Cassandra Freeman will be Vivian Banks. Willy's uncles. The iconic Carlton Banks, another major character in the sitcom, will be played by Olly Sholotan. Hilary and Ashley Banks will be played by Coco Jones and Akira Akbar, respectively. In the role of Geoffrey in this remake we have instead Jimmy Akingbola. Finally Jazz will have the face of Jordan L. Jones and Lisa will be played by Simone Joy Jones. Online are available the first official images of the full cast.
The remake will have a more dramatic character than the initial series. It will highlight the fragility of the characters: this is the intention of Morgan Cooper, the creator of the Bel Air reboot idea. We don't know at the moment the release date that, pandemic permitting, should be scheduled in the first six months of 2022.