Steven Prusakowski
Filling the shoes of Will Smith is no easy task. Even so, newcomer Jabari Banks was eager to take on challenge for Bel-Air, a dramatic reimagining of the hit 1990s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
In the new Peacock series, Banks play Will (previously played by Will Smith,) a good-hearted and talented teenager haunted by some bad decisions that put his life in danger. To protect him, his family has him relocated from rough streets of Philadelphia to an affluent neighborhood in Bel Air California to live with his rich aunt and uncle.
The cast, led by Banks, includes all the familiar characters; Adrian Holmes as Uncle Phil, Cassandra Freeman as Aunt Viv, Coco Jones as Hilary, Olly Sholotan as Carlton, Akira Akbar as Ashley, Jimmy Akingbola as Geoffrey, Simone Joy Jones as Lisa, and Jordan L. Jones as Jazz.
The importance of it was not lost on Banks. He responded, “this is everything, this means the world to me.” He hopes to give back to his community through a series that delivers on the promise of representation, giving kids just like him a sense of “pride and excellence.” During the interview he also touched upon taking on Will Smith’s role, what to expect from the series, his favorite moments from the original and more.
Check out the full interview below and be sure to watch the Bel-Air, now streaming exclusively on Peacock.
Comments
Loading…