*“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” is getting a dramatic reboot based on Morgan Cooper’s viral clip and is “currently being shopped” to various online streaming services, including Netflix.
This time, the story of the street-smart teen who moves in with his rich uncle in Bel-Air, California will not be a comedy, BBC reports.
The drama will be a co-production between original series star Will Smith and his Westbrook Studios as well as original producers Universal TV, per Complex.
The reboot was inspired by a viral YouTube trailer that flips the script on the narrative. Smith described it as a “brilliant idea, the dramatic version of The Fresh Prince for the next generation.”
Watch the trailer via the YouTube clip above.
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without the talent and light that was James Avery. We all love and miss you, James.
Cooper is attached to the project as writer, director, and co-executive producer.
Original creators Andy and Susan Borowitz will serve as executive producers, alongside Smith and original EP’s Quincy Jones and Benny Medina.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the reboot has been “in the works” for more than a year. The project is currently being shopped to Netflix, Peacock, HBO Max, and other potential homes, the report states.
Back in April, Smith and the original Fresh Prince cast paid tribute to the late James Avery, who played Uncle Phil on the TV series (see Instagram post above).
“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” ran on NBC from 1990 to 1996 for six seasons. The show also starred Janet Hubert, Alfonso Ribeiro, Karyn Parsons, Tatyana M. Ali, Joseph Marcell, Daphne Maxwell Reid, and Ross Bagley.
After the show ended, Will Smith went on to have successful movie career, and at one point, he was highest paid actor in Hollywood.
