Bel-Air is a reimagined model of The French Prince of Bel-Air, with a brand new ensemble solid taking up the acquainted, beloved characters. There are some variations between the Bel-Air characters and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air characters, though they could share the identical title. The 2022 Peacock collection is way darker and extra dramatic than the 1990 sitcom. Yet, even when approached in a different way, they share some similarities in storylines and character traits.

Both collection deal with the Banks household and their cousin Will, who strikes to Bel-Air after, as the unique theme track states, “got in one little fight and [his] mom got scared.” Will is initially misplaced within the privileged space of Bel-Air, having grown up in West Philly, which is an enormous a part of his character. Will’s charisma helps him discover his place, however he by no means loses his West Philly spirit. Bel-Air additionally options a number of Fresh Prince Easter eggs for followers of the unique.

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Jabari Banks As Will Smith

Date Of Birth: August 2, 1998

Actor: Jabari Banks was born in West Philadelphia and earned his bachelor’s diploma in nice arts and theatre artwork from the University of the Arts, Philadelphia. Banks’ first main function was as Will Smith in Bel-Air. Growing up in West Philly, Banks has a whole lot of similarities with actor-rapper Will Smith, who originated the function. Like Smith, Banks can also be a rapper. In addition to Bel-Air, he has appeared in two movies, Bad Genius and American Dream: The 21 Savage Story.

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Character: Jabari Banks stars in Bel-Air as Will Smith, a 16-year-old from West Philly whose world is turned the wrong way up when he strikes to dwell along with his distant household in Bel-Air. He’s a gifted basketball participant and instantly possible, however his mood can get him into bother.

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Cassandra Freeman As Vivian Banks

Date Of Birth: October 1, 1978

Actor: Writer and actor Cassandra Freeman was born in West Palm Beach, Florida, and has appeared in quite a few tv exhibits and films. Freeman’s first notable function was as Sylvia in Spike Lee’s Inside Man. Other notable initiatives of Freeman’s embrace the tv collection Single Ladies, Luke Cage, and The Enemy Within. Freeman has her personal non-profit, Kassandra Arts Project, that empowers deprived kids by serving to them unlock their creativity.

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Character: Cassandra Freeman performs Vivian Banks, Will’s aunt and the matriarch of the Banks household. She does her greatest to maintain the household collectively and has a comfortable spot for Will. Throughout Bel-Air, Vivian returns to her roots as an artist, including depth to her character outdoors the house.

Adrian Holmes As Philip Banks

Date Of Birth: March 31, 1974

Actor: Adrian Holmes was born to Bajan dad and mom in Wrexham, Wales, and moved to Vancouver, Canada when he was 5. He studied nursing at Langara College to appease his mom who needed him to have a backup plan for appearing. Adrian Holmes’ first main function was as Griff and Basqatt in Smallville. From there, he’s appeared in exhibits like True Justice, Continuum, Arrow, 19-2, and extra. Holmes’ movie credit embrace Elysium, Vendetta, and Chained.

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Character: The patriarch of the Banks household, Philip Banks, is performed by Adrian Holmes. Philip is a well-connected lawyer who has made himself right into a rich man after humble beginnings within the South. Though stricter than Vivian, he simply desires what’s greatest for his household.

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Coco Jones As Hilary Banks

Date Of Birth: January 4, 1998

Actor: Singer and actor Coco Jones was born in Columbia, South Carolina and raised in Lebanon, Tennessee. Jones began her profession as a singer and was the runner-up in Radio Disney’s The Next Big Thing season 3. In 2012, Coco Jones had her first lead appearing function as Roxie within the Disney Channel musical film Let it Shine. Since then, Jones has principally targeted on her music, with Bel-Air being her greatest tv function up to now. In 2024, she received her first Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance.

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Character: Coco Jones performs the eldest Banks baby, Hilary Banks, in Bel-Air. Hilary is a cooking influencer who’s attempting to determine easy methods to make a reputation and profession for herself outdoors her household’s title.

Olly Sholotan As Carlton Banks

Date Of Birth: April 5, 1998

Actor: Actor and musical actor Olly Sholotan was born in Atlanta, Georgia and lived in Nigeria till the age of 10 when he and his household moved to Houston, Texas. In 2019, he graduated from the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television and shortly after, Sholotanappeared in his first movie, Run Hide Fight. Bel-Air is his most notable tv function, and he was a part of the supporting solid of Gigi & Nate. Sholotan has launched a number of songs by way of his impartial file label Lamintin Records.

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Character: Olly Sholoton performs the center Banks baby, Carlton Banks. Carlton initially doesn’t take warmly to having Will residing with them in Bel-Air, seeing him as a by way of. Carlton offers with anxiousness and the pressures of attempting to slot in at a predominantly white college.

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Akira Akbar As Ashley Banks

Date Of Birth: October 2, 2006

Actor: Akira Akbar was born in Los Angeles, California. Akbar had her breakthrough function as younger Monica Rambeau in Captain Marvel. That identical yr, she performed Young Beth in some of the well-known episodes of This Is Us, season 3, episode 13, “Our Little Island Girl.” Akbar has a number of different appearing credit, together with Good Trouble, however Bel-Air gave the younger actor her greatest function in her profession to date.

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Character: Akira Akbar performs the youngest Banks baby in Bel-Air, Ashley Banks. She generally will get neglected due to the difficulty her siblings and cousins steadily discover themselves in, however Ashley is a passionate younger activist.

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Jimmy Akingbola As Geoffrey Thompson

Date Of Birth: April 7, 1978

Actor: Nigerian-British actor Jimmy Akingbola was born in Plaistow, London, England to folks who had emigrated from Nigeria. Though he’d been appearing onstage and onscreen for a number of years, Jimmy Akingbola rose to fame as PC Neil Parker in HolbyBlue. He has additionally appeared in Rev., Holby City, Arrow, In the Long Run, and hosted Sorry, I Didn’t Know. Akingbola has carried out in a number of performs on the West End, having began his profession on the Birmingham Repertory Theatre.

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Character: Jimmy Akingbola performs a revamped model of Geoffrey in Bel-Air, the Banks household’s home supervisor. He works intently with Phil to do the extra unsavory issues required to maintain the household’s standing and fame.

Bel-Air Supporting Cast & Characters

Bel-Air Has A Strong Ensemble Cast

Simone Joy Jones as Lisa Wilkes – Simone Joy Jones, who performs Lisa, is understood for The Son of No One, Anything’s Possible, and The Chair. Lisa is Carlton’s ex-girlfriend and one in all Will’s love pursuits in Bel-Air.

Jordan L. Jones as Jazz – Known for Snowfall and Rel, Jordan L. Jones performs Jazz in Bel-Air. Jazz is a taxi driver, file retailer proprietor, and Will’s first buddy when he arrives in Bel Air.

April Parker Jones as Viola “Vy” Smith – American actor April Parker Jones has beforehand appeared in Jericho, If Loving You Is Wrong, and Supergirl. In Bel-Air, Jones performs Will’s mom, Vy, who sends him to California to maintain him out of bother.

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Joe Holt as Fred Wilkes – Joe Holt is an American actor born in Tokyo, Japan, recognized for The Punisher, Delilah, and The Walking Dead: World Beyond. Holt is featured in Bel-Air as Fred Wilkes, Lisa’s dad and the Bel Air Chief of Police.

Tyler Barnhardt as Connor Satterfield – Outside his function in Bel-Air, Tyler Barnhardt has been in Underground, 13 Reasons Why, and Senior Year. In the Peacock authentic collection, Barnhardt performs Connor, one in all Carlton’s lacrosse teammates who has a difficulty with Will.

Charlie Hall as Tyler Laramy – Charlie Hall is greatest recognized for his roles in Love, Victor, Big Shot, and The Sex Lives of College Girls. In Bel-Air, Hall takes on the function of Tyler, Will’s basketball teammate and one in all his few pals at Bel-Air Academy.

Brooklyn McLinn as Doc Hightower – Brooklyn McLinn, who was launched in Bel-Air season 2 as Doc Hightower, has had roles in Black-ish, Goliath, and Cloak and Dagger. Doc is the coach of an area AAU basketball group that Will performs for.

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Karreuche Tran as Ivy – Socialite and actor Karreuche Tran is understood for Claws and The Bay. In Bel-Air, Tran performs Ivy, Hilary’s influencer buddy and occasional rival who helps her construct her model and home.

Jazlyn Martin as Jackie – Jazlyn Martin, who has appeared in All American: Homecoming, This Is Us, and The High Note was launched as Jackie in Bel-Air season 2. Jackie is Doc’s niece and one in all Will’s love pursuits.

Riele Downs as Yazmin Staats – Canadian actor Riele Downs started her profession as a toddler actor with roles in The Best Man Holiday and Henry Danger and has since starred in Darby and the Dead. Downs performs Yazmin in Bel-Air, the pinnacle of Bel-Air Academy’s Black Student Union and one in all Carlton’s love pursuits.

Bel-Air

A gritty and extra grounded reimagining of the ’90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Bel-Air stars Jabari Banks as Will Smith. After falling afoul of a drug lord and his gang in his native West Philadelphia, Will Smith strikes to a gated neighborhood in Bel-Air along with his rich Aunt Vivian (Cassandra Freeman) and Uncle Phil (Adrian Holmes). Not solely should Will alter to his new atmosphere, however he is additionally pressured to cope with his previous as a way to embrace his future. 

Cast

Coco Jones , Jordan L. Jones , Olly Sholotan , Adrian Holmes , Jimmy Akingbola , Cassandra Freeman , Akira Akbar , Jabari Banks , Simone Joy Jones

Release Date

February 13, 2022

Seasons

2

Showrunner

Carla Banks Waddles