Now this is a story all about how the dramatic reimagining of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air got delayed to 2022.
On Tuesday, August 3, The Hollywood Reporter revealed a disappointing update regarding Peacock's planned reboot of Fresh Prince, aptly titled BEL-Air. Specifically, showrunner Chris Collins stepped down from his role in December and was replaced by Diane Houston, who has also walked away from the position. Now, it will be T.J. Brady and Rasheed Newson taking up the reins.
Why is this important? Well, per the publication, BEL-Air, which is a dramatic retelling of the beloved '90s sitcom, "is going in a slightly different creative direction." This change means the Will Smith-produced project is unlikely to premiere in 2021 and will be bumped to next year.
Last year, Smith's Westbrook Studios and Universal TV announced they were creating a series inspired by cinematographer Morgan Cooper's 2019 viral trailer. By September, Smith confirmed that the dramatic reboot found a two season home at NBCUniversal's streaming service.
"We have just officially closed the deal with Peacock with an unprecedented two-season-order from a pitch," Smith shared with Cooper and Collins in a YouTube video. "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. So, I want to say congratulations. I am hyped."
The one-hour drama, which will be set in modern-day America, will still feature Will from West Philadelphia, but his journey to California may be darker than fans of the original series would expect.
Following the two-season announcement, Cooper, who plans to direct, co-write and co-executive produce the drama, said he wants to "peel back the layers of these iconic characters and explore this world in a really unforgettable way."
It'll be interesting to see how this showrunner change affects the original plans for the drama. For a status report on the other revivals out there, scroll through the images below!
(E! and Peacock are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)