Will Smithis heading back to Bel-Air, withTV Linereporting that the star is developing aTV rebootofThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. There are no plans for the actor to star in the reboot, but his production company Overbrook Entertainment is in the very early stages of developing this project. The pitch is set to be finalized soon, with the production company taking it to various networks over the next few weeks.
The project reportedly puts a new spin onFresh Prince of Bel-Air, while maintaining the spirit of the original series. The show ran on NBC for six seasons, between 1990 and 1996, launching rapperWill Smith’s acting career.The Fresh Prince of Bel-Aircentered onWill Smith’s character Will Smith, whose “life got flip turned upside down” when his mother sends him from his Philadelphia home to live with his aunt and uncle in their posh Bel-Air home. The series co-starred Alfonso Ribeiro as Carlton,James Averyas Uncle Phil, Karyn Parsons as Hilary, Tatyana Ali as Ashley and Joseph Marcell as the family butler, Geoffrey.
Will Smithis executive producing alongside his Overbrook partners James Lassiter, Caleeb Pinkett andJada Pinkett Smith. It isn’t known if the series will be a continuation, picking up several years later likeNetflix’s upcomingFuller Houseand NBC’sCoach, or a straight-up reboot with a new character from Philadelphia who moves to Bel-Air. NBC’sBob Greenblattsaid at the TCA tour today that the network is not involved, but he would be “happy to talk to Will [Smith] about it.”
Just five years after the show debuted,Will Smith’s movie career took off, with the actor starring in back-to-backbox officeblockbustersBad BoysandIndependence Day. The actor is still one of the biggest box office draws in the world, and he is currently filmingSuicide Squadfor Warner Bros, and he will next be seen on the big screen inConcussion, arriving in theaters onChristmas Day. He also recently signed on to replaceHugh JackmaninCollateral Beauty.
The TV landscape has become inundated with reboots as of late. Along withFuller Houseand NBC’sCoach, Fox is debutingMinority Reportthis fall, while CBS hasLimitlessandRush Hourarriving later this year. ABC also orderedUncle Buckto series, and NBC is developing aXena: Warrior Princess, and that’s just to name a few. What do you think about a new version ofThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air?
