It must have been a big moment for Will, passing the torch of his beloved, superstar-making role onto the next actor.
Crowning a new “Prince”
However, it must have been bigger for the recipient, Jabari Banks. Will Smith broke the great news to him over a video call last week, telling him:
“It is an absolute pleasure to meet you, to be on with you, and from the deepest parts of my heart I want to say congratulations to you…You have the role of Will on Bel-Air.”
Banks, absolutely delighted and elated responded to Smith:
“I’m so ready, y’all. I’m ready to bite down…This is a dream come true!”
Jabari admitted that his dad was the person to get him involved with the series saying, “So my dad sent me, actually, this article about (the reboot). He was like, ‘Yo, you should really do this.’ And I was like, ‘Dad, that’s not how auditions work,'”
Two months later, though, his agent contacted him and let him know he had a spot to audition. The rest is history.
From “Fresh Prince” to “Bel-Air”
The new series will take a different direction than that first. While the original series was your traditional comedic sitcom, the new series goes head-first into drama. Granted, the 1990s series had its moment of drama, but series director Morgan Cooper is taking it to another level. Based off of his viral short film “Bel-Air”, the reboot will be as gritty as it is intense.
Will Smith will be a co-executive producer, along with Cooper and others, through his production company Westbrook Studios. Universal Studios will also be producing the show along side Westbrook.
Stay on FMHipHop for more, and be sure to check out the fashion from the 30th Anniversary of “The Fresh Prince”!
