The trailer for Stan’s new series Bel-Air has dropped and fans of the 90s sitcom should prepare themselves for a bold reboot.
Will Smith – who led the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from 1990 to 1996 – now serves as an executive producer for the drama series, which will be released on February 13.
The series will follow the same premise as the original – Will, a teenage boy from West Philadelphia (“born and raised”) runs into trouble with a gang making trouble in his neighbourhood.
His mother ships him off to her sister and her upper class family across the country to the wealthy enclave of Bel-Air, California for his own safety.
But the trailer of the retelling takes a far darker tone with glimpses of Will’s east coast upbringing surrounded by poverty, gangs, police brutality and gun violence.
The new Will, played by newcomer Jabari Banks, turns on the charm just like Smith’s version of the character as he meets house manager Geoffrey Thompson, played by Jimmy Akingbola, who has yet to warm up to him.
Will enters the palatial Banks mansion and meets with his Aunt Vivian and glamorous cousin Hillary, just before the family’s lavish shindig for their upper crust circle begins.
Following a brief makeover into a sharp suit, he attempts to get into good graces with his Uncle Phil and cousin Carlton but is immediately met with a frosty reception by both who seemed ashamed of his reason for joining the household.
The trailer also shows Will’s first day at Carlton’s Stanford-esque high school, where he appears to be king of the hallways and the field – a far cry from Alfonso Ribeiro’s dorky and loveable interpretation.
While the drama definitely amped up for the new series, it certainly seems to still have the same heart at the centre of it.
At one point Uncle Phil, played by Adrian Holmes, tells Will: “A real man takes responsibility for his actions. A real man knows when to let go of his pride and make the most out of a second chance,” reminiscent of the late James Avery’s many moments of wisdom throughout the sitcom.
Though the reboot seems worlds away from a comedy, it does give nods here and there to the sitcom which fans will enjoy, including Will drinking orange juice out of a champagne glass on the flight to California, his Philly twist on their school uniform, hip hop music and black culture.
Episodes for the drama will run for one hour and Peacock has ordered two seasons of the Westbrook Inc. and Universal Television production.
Bel-Air will be available to stream on Stan on February 13.
