#Bel-Air: Peacock Shares First Look at Reboot

The streaming service has unveiled a first look at Bel-Air, the highly anticipated update of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Will Smith’s voice is present in the teaser for the dramatic reboot.

“This is a story… all about how my life got flipped… turned upside down,” Smith says in the clip as Bel-Air‘s new Will (played by Jabari Banks) is shown sinking to the bottom of a pool.

He then lands on a throne as Smith says the following:

“I looked at my kingdom… I was finally there… to sit on my throne.”

The new series is a “serialized one-hour dramatic analogue of the ’90s sitcom that leans into the original premise: Will’s complicated journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air,” reads the official logline. 

“With a reimagined vision, Bel-Air will dive deeper into the inherent conflicts, emotions and biases that were impossible to fully explore in a 30-minute sitcom format, while still delivering swagger and nods to the original show.”

T.J. Brady, Rasheed Newson (Co-Showrunners, EPs) and Morgan Cooper (Director, Co-Writer, EP) also teased what fans can expect from this new series:

T.J. Brady and Rasheed Newson, Executive Producers and Co-Showrunners

At its heart, Bel-Air is a coming-of-age story that celebrates the strength and love of the Black family.

We have stayed true to the original premise of the legacy series – Will’s life is turned upside down after he is forced to leave West Philly and lands in Bel-Air with its gated mansions and wealth, however, our new series brings Will and the Banks family into the world as we know it now.

It’s been incredible to bring these iconic characters to life when you tap them into the cultural pulse of our time.

The series was the fabric of so many of our upbringings, tied to memories and the joy of seeing ourselves represented on TV so it is important to us to pay respect to its legacy.

During the development of Bel-Air, the most daunting question was: Could we find a young actor who’d be able to step into the role of Will Smith?

Well, did we ever find him. His name is Jabari Banks and he won our hearts in the same way he won this role.

Our creative team, including Will Smith, recognized that Jabari embodied the talent, charisma, and sheer swagger necessary to make this iconic role his own.

Morgan Cooper, Director, Co-Writer, Executive Producer:

With this dramatic reimagining, we wanted to create a show that stands on its own while honoring the spirit and innovation of the original series.

Because Bel-Air is a drama, we’re able to really peel back the layers of these characters and themes in a way that you simply couldn’t do 30 years ago in the half-hour sitcom format.

We’re able to go have tough conversations that challenge perspectives. At its core, Bel-Air is a celebration of the black experience through the perspective of a family.

My approach to the series started with a deep focus on tone and really being intentional with my creative choices.

I’m inspired by a lot of things as a director; it could be a random conversation, memories from my past, it could be art, music, fashion.

Everything can be inspiration, and having a two-season order gives us the opportunity to go infinitely deeper narratively, visually, and aesthetically. I think that with Bel-Air we have created something unique and honest.

Paul Dailly is the Associate Editor for TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter.