Jabari Banks is still a fish out of water in ritzy Los Angeles in the third season trailer for Bel-Air, Peacock’s dramatic take on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air 1990s sitcom that starred Will Smith.
“You always told me I was in control of my own destiny,” Banks, who plays Smith’s iconic role in the dramatic reboot, says at one point in the trailer as the street-smart Philadelphia teen continues to grapple with life in steamy, summertime Los Angeles as he bumps into his estranged father, Lou, played by Marlon Wayans.
“I left behind basketball. That was my way out the hood. That was the only good thing in my life and see my son making the same damn mistakes as me and there’s nothing I could do about it,” Will’s frustrated father tells his son as he sits next to Uncle Phil, played by Adrian Holmes.
Inspired by Morgan Cooper’s 2019 mock viral trailer that reimagined the original sitcom as a gritty contemporary drama, Bel-Air in the third season continues Smith’s difficult journey from the mean streets of Philadelphia to a summer of luxury in California amid beach parties, bonfires and Juneteenth celebrations.
“There’s always gonna be a price. That’s on you,” Joseph Marcell, who played Geoffrey the butler in the original Fresh Prince comedy and guest stars in the third season of Bel-Air, says at one point in the trailer.
The Bel-Air drama also stars Cassandra Freeman as Vivian Banks, Olly Sholotan as Carlton Banks, Coco Jones as Hilary Banks, Akira Akbar as Ashley Banks and Jordan L. Jones as Jazz.
Carla Banks Waddles is the latest showrunner on the drama from exec producers Morgan Cooper, Will Smith, Terence Carter, James Lassiter, Miguel Melendez, Benny Medina, Quincy Jones, Andy Borowitz, Susan Borowitz, Janeika James, Jasheika James and Andy Reaser. Bel-Air is produced by Universal Television and Westbrook Studios.
