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THE FRESH PRINCE of Bel-Air is getting turned upside-down as a gritty drama set to be executive produced by Will Smith, according to reports.
The idea for a dark modern-day “reimagining” of the smash hit 1990s sitcom that launched Smith’s acting career came from superfan Morgan Cooper, who shot and posted his own four-minute trailer last year.
Two versions of the trailer have been viewed over seven million times and won over Smith himself, who met Cooper last year and praised his “brilliant” idea.
“Morgan did a ridiculous trailer for ‘Bel-Air’ — a brilliant idea, the dramatic version of ‘The Fresh Prince’ for the next generation,” Smith said on his YouTube channel at the time.
According to the Hollywood Reporter and Deadline, the project is now in development with Smith’s Westbrook Studios and Universal TV, and being pitched to various streaming platforms including Netflix.
The project would feature hour-long dramatic episodes telling the story of how Smith’s character became embroiled in a fight with Philadelphia gang members before being sent to live with wealthy relatives in the affluent Los Angeles suburb of Bel-Air.
“I envision the first season being the rest of his junior year – there’s no worse time for a kid to land in a new place, in the middle of the school year,” Cooper told Smith last year.
Cooper’s trailer includes a young Will’s first meeting with popular characters from the original series, including Jazz – alias Jazzy Jeff – at a Los Angeles record store.
Cooper will co-write the script, direct and be credited as a co-executive producer, working alongside several original members of the Fresh Prince creative team and showrunner Chris Collins (The Wire) according to reports.
Smith and Cooper’s representatives did not immediately respond to AFP request for comment.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air ran for six seasons from 1990-1996, becoming a global hit. It showcased the acting and comedic talents of Smith, then a young rapper who would go on to become one of Hollywood’s biggest movie stars.
- © AFP 2020.
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Leave it alone please.
@Pùca: just make I am legend 2 already original was great film !
@Pùca: nah. Did you see the trailer? Looks unreal.
Will and Jaden with respect please leave us alone ta. Enough is enough.
Nooooooooooooooo.
This sounds all wrong!!
If it has his son Jayden as the star, they would hardly need a multi episode season to explain the story. A six second vine would work fine with his punchable face.
To be called The Mowldy Prince of Bel Air…
@ruairi: Is he Welsh?
@Alan McArdle:
No he’s a scientologist.
What a gimmick. Why not make a seperate show?
Breaking news
Ffs
Leave it as is please and thanks
All the people saying leave it alone clearly didn’t watch the trailer.
Trailer looked incredible, fair exceeded my expectations and put to rest any worries I had that they’d ruin the memory of an iconic show.
This’ll be big.
Ah jaysus
I am not a fan of reboots or changing things but the trailer basically looks like a whole new show and not really comparable to the original. Will give it a shot
@european liberal: if it’s really that much of a departure, then why not just go the extra step and make a new show. All these reboots are clinging to the hope that brand recognition is enough to generate buzz, but usually they fall flat
Directed by Zach Snyder
Diana went to some cracking parties back in the day.
I should have watched the trailer before commenting lol. Now that I have, it doesn’t look all that bad. If it wasn’t a reimagined version of an old show, I think everybody would be into this. I think most of the knee jerk reactions (including my own) are completely based on the fact that its a remake of a show we all know and loved. Having watched the trailer, I think the premise is one that could actually work pretty well as a gritty drama. I’m gunna hold off on judgement until it’s properly warranted.
God, going to butcher it. Can’t leave well enough alone.
Didn’t they already try that with Sabrina? And look at the state of that. Stop thinking you can recapture lightening in a bottle. The fun of fresh Prince was the fact that it was funny. If you take away the comedy there’s really nothing left. Even the prospect of Will Smith isn’t enough to make this sound good. Will Smith is an ego maniac who has too be the center of everything he does, and thats so painfully Obvious that it borders on the cringe. Bad idea.
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