Bel-Airstars newcomer Jabari Banks, who is a perfect fit for the role of Will: In real life, he previously attended Philadelphia’s University of the Arts—plus, he’s a rapper and basketball player. “I’m just leaning into who I am," Banks toldGeeks of Color. “Being from where I am…Sometimes it does get real and I have to step away.” Luckily, he has a supportive mentor in Will Smith himself. “Will was very supportive early on," Banks added. “He said he wanted to be to me what Quincy Jones was to him.” Unlike Fresh Prince, however, Bel-Air is an hour-long drama where the characters deal with modern-day problems. (The original was a half-hour sitcom, of course, with plenty of humor mixed in with more serious topics.) “The original is so iconic. It’s always going to be an inspiration. We never want to be some knockoff,” co-showrunner T.J. Brady toldTVLine. “It’s literally just taking any ideas we might get from the original and asking ourselves, ‘What would that look like in reality here in 2022?’” The first three episodes of the new Peacock drama premiered on Sunday, February 13, with the rest of the 10-episode season arriving weekly through Thursday, March 31. Here’s what we know about Bel-Air’s upcoming Season 2.
When is Bel-Air Season 2 coming out?
It’s unclear when Season 2 of Bel Air might arrive, since we’re still in the middle of Season 1. It also doesn’t appear as though the series filmed the second season along with the first one. Hopefully once Season 1 concludes in late March, we’ll get clarity on future new episodes (and seasons!) of Bel Air.
Which Bel-Air cast members will return for Season 2?
One can hope every cast member will return for Season 2, since the chemistry between Bel-Air cast members is undeniable. “I remember him [Will Smith] telling me, to just create with confidence, always,” the show’s director, writer and executive producer MorganCooper toldVIBE. “Him truly passing me that baton and giving me the trust to reimagine these characters is an honor and something I take very, very seriously, but it was a responsibility that I wanted.”
Has filming started on Bel-Air Season 2?
The cast of Bel-Air is super busy promoting Season 1 of the show so they haven’t had time yet to start filming Season 2. Once the season winds down in late March, we’ll probably get a better idea of when filming will begin for Season 2.
Are there spoilers for Bel-Air Season 2?
What might happen in Season 2 is still under wraps. This makes sense: There’s so much drama in each episode of Bel-Air, who knows what might be brewing by the time the first season ends? The last episode of Season 1 airs on Thursday, March 31, so you can no doubt expect some hints and spoilers about what’s coming up next in just a few weeks.
What happened in Bel-Air Season 1?
The first season of Bel-Air is full of dramatic twists and turns. The season’s not over yet, but here’s what’s happened so far. As with the original series, Will heads west to California from Philadelphia to live with his Aunt Vivian (Cassandra Freeman) and Uncle Phil (Adrian Holmes). The move happened for a similar reason as it did in the sitcom: In both, Will runs afoul of drug dealers and moves to avoid confrontation. Bel-Air’s undercurrent is much more dangerous. Back in Philly, Will actually pulled a gun on a drug dealer, was charged with firearms possession and was bailed out by Phil. For his safety, Will’s mom April (Viola “Vy” Smith) sends him to Bel Air—although he can’t exactly escape his past, as the first season foreshadows a confrontation between Will and the dealer, which ends due to a very unlikely intervention from house manager Geoffrey (JimmyAkingbola). Will experiences major culture shock after moving to Bel Air. He and cousin Carlton also clash, especially after Will catches feelings for his cousin’s ex, Lisa (Simone Joy Jones) and finds his niche as a basketball star at Bel-Air Academy. “There’s so much animosity between Will and Carlton," actor Banks toldTVLine. “It’s going to be super exciting for people to watch the darker dynamic grow… Carlton is the king of this circle that he’s created and Will throws a wrench in the system that he has going.” The rest of the characters are facing their own struggles. Aunt Viv is working to rekindle her art career, while Uncle Phil is trying to run for L.A. district attorney and running into snags. Hilary, meanwhile, is an aspiring food influencer. “I wanted to speak for the girls that were CEOs and had these unconventional ambitions and these paths that aren’t necessarily the go to college and get a job path, because I didn’t have that path in my life,“Coco Jones, who portrays Hilary, toldAwardsRadar. “It really resonated with me to tell that story and represent the fearless, courageous character that you have to be to pursue these goals against all odds.” And 12-year-old Ashley (Akira Akbar) is starting to figure out her true self as she becomes a teenager.
Is Bel-Air a comedy?
Bel-Air is a Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reboot, although it doesn’t have the straight-up comedic vibe of the original series. It does, however, have subtle nods to the ’90s sitcom. For example, at the start of the series, ScreenRantnoticed that a J. Cole song (“No Role Modelz”) plays that references the death of the original Uncle Phil, the actor James Avery. “You can never reboot The Fresh Prince of Bel Air and so we wanted to create something that’s truly reimagined these characters through a modern lens while still paying homage to what they did,” Cooper toldTVLine. “We pay tribute in those small fun ways when it’s organic through our storytelling.” Cooper, who was a fan of the original series growing up, was driving on the freeway one day and “the entire vision hit me at once,” he toldLooper. “It’s always been something that was a part of my life, my family’s life, my friends—everybody I roll with, we love The Fresh Prince. [But I] said, ‘What if we grounded these characters that we know and love from the sitcom in modern day life in America? What would that look like?’” Cooper mocked up a video trailer andposted it online—and, believe it or not, Smith’s team saw it and called him up within a day to chat about making the fake concept a reality. The men met in Miami a few weeks later to have serious talks about developing the show. “At the end of the trip, we shook hands and decided to get into business together and bring this thing to life through this show,” Cooper added. “It’s been an incredible journey, and Will is the best guy and so supportive of my vision, and I couldn’t be more thankful for that.”
Is Bel Air a real place?
Yes! Bel Air (which needn’t be spelled with a hyphen in real life) is indeed a ritzy part of Los Angeles full ofmultimillion-dollar homes. Although theLos Angeles Times notes celebrities were at first not welcome there, luminaries such as Judy Garland, Elizabeth Taylor, Jay-Z and Beyonce, Jennifer Aniston, Zsa Zsa Gabor, and Alfred Hitchcock have all lived there. However, the Bel Air in the series isn’t quite a direct recreation of the city—creators did take some licenses with scenes. However, the idea of Bel Air—a place where extremely rich people live in mansions—is very accurate.
How many seasons is Bel-Air?
Bel-Air is currently set to run for two seasons. In fact, confidence was so high in the series that Bel-Air received anorder for two seasons right away. “We have just officially closed the deal with Peacock with an unprecedented two-season-order from a pitch,” Smith told Cooper and others in a September 2020 Zoom call when the deal closed. “I’ve been in this business for 30 years and that does not happen. They ordered two full seasons of Bel-Air based on the quality of the pitch and the work that you guys have done.” We should know soon if a Season 3 is in the cards, as renewal news usually comes near the end of TV seasons. Next, Find Out All About the Second Half of Ozark’s Fourth and Final Season, Including the Premiere Date and Latest Trailer!
