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Bel-Air (film)

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For the TV series of the same name, see Bel-Air (TV series).

Bel-Air
Film poster
Directed byMorgan Cooper
Written byMorgan Cooper
Based on
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
by
Produced by
  • Johnny Starke
  • Kerry Rounds
  • Morgan Cooper
  • Corey McCartney
Starring
  • Jerry Madison
  • Sherri Roulette-Mosley
  • Granvile O’Neal
  • Kira Ashby
  • Jelani Talib
  • Rufus Burns
  • Sada K.
  • Khrystal Coppage
  • Jada Paige
CinematographyMorgan Cooper
Edited by
  • Morgan Cooper
  • Anthony Devera
Music by
  • B. Jones
  • Mark Francis
  • Duncan Burnett
  • Easy Mccoy
Production
company
Sun Squared Media
Distributed bySun Squared Media
Release date
  • March 10, 2019 (2019-03-10)
Running time
4 minutes
LanguageEnglish

Bel-Air is a 2019 short fan film written and directed by Morgan Cooper, based on the 1990s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The film serves as a mock trailer for a darker, more dramatic re-imagining of the sitcom. It was uploaded on YouTube on March 10, 2019.[1][2]

In August 2020, it was announced that it was being developed into a full television show, with Cooper and original series star Will Smith as executive producers.[3][4][5] The series had reportedly been in the works for over a year since Cooper posted his Bel-Air trailer on YouTube, with Netflix, NBC's Peacock, and HBO Max all bidding for the series.[6] On September 8, 2020, it was picked up by Peacock, which gave Bel-Air a two-season order.[7]

Plot

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After being involved in a gang fight during a street basketball game, Will Smith is sent by his mother out of the rough streets of Philadelphia to live with his uncle and aunt in the affluent neighborhood of Bel Air, Los Angeles, in the hopes of straightening out his life.

The film is supposed to take place in 2019. The trailer is heavily influenced by modern-day popular culture, according to Cooper in an interview.[citation needed]

Cast

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NOTE: The characters Geoffrey Butler and Nicky Banks (portrayed by Joseph Marcell and Ross Bagley in the original series) do not appear in the film.

Production

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Morgan Cooper shot the Philadelphia sequences of Bel-Air in his hometown of Kansas City, Missouri, in a span of six months.[1]

Reception and expansion

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Will Smith, who played the main character of the original sitcom, heavily praised the fan film, commenting that "Morgan did a ridiculous trailer for Bel-Air. Brilliant idea, the dramatic version of The Fresh Prince for the next generation." He also hinted at options of expanding the idea beyond the short film.[8][9]

On August 11, 2020, the series Bel-Air was officially announced after being in the works for over a year. At the time, Netflix, HBO Max, and Peacock were bidding for the rights to the show.[10] On September 8, 2020, Peacock gave the series a two-season order under the title Bel-Air, with Westbrook Inc. and Universal Television producing. Smith and Cooper executive-produce, alongside Terence Carter, James Lassiter, Miguel Melendez, Malcolm Spellman, Quincy Jones, Benny Medina, Andy Borowitz, and Susan Borowitz.[11] An online premiere for the series was held on February 9, 2022, by Crown & Conquer.[12] The series premiered on Peacock on February 13, 2022.[13][14]

References

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  1. ^ a b Greene, Andy (March 13, 2019). "Hilarious 'Bel Air' Trailer Reimagines 'The Fresh Prince' as a Dramatic Movie". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 27, 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  2. ^ Kirkland, Justin (March 14, 2019). "The Fresh Prince Gets a Dramatic Reimagining in the Trailer for Bel-Air". Esquire. Archived from the original on April 27, 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  3. ^ Nellie Andreeva (August 11, 2020). "Bel-Air: Drama Series Take On The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air From Morgan Cooper & Westbrook Studios Heats Up Streaming Marketplace". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  4. ^ Jesse Schedeen (August 11, 2020). "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to Be Rebooted as a Drama". IGN. Archived from the original on August 12, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  5. ^ Lesley Goldberg (August 11, 2020). "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Drama Reboot in the Works". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  6. ^ "'Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' Drama Reboot in the Works". The Hollywood Reporter. August 11, 2020. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  7. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (September 8, 2020). "'Bel-Air': Peacock Gives 2-Season Order To 'The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air' Drama Reboot From Morgan Cooper & Westbrook Studios". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 8, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  8. ^ Smith, Will (April 26, 2019). "How I Really Feel About That BEL-AIR Trailer". YouTube. Archived from the original on September 5, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  9. ^ Parker, Ryan (April 26, 2019). "Will Smith Calls Dramatic Fan-Made 'Bel-Air' Trailer "Brilliant"". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 28, 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  10. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (August 11, 2020). "'Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' Drama Reboot in the Works". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  11. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (September 8, 2020). "'Bel-Air': Peacock Gives 2-Season Order to 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' Drama Reboot from Morgan Cooper & Westbrook Studios". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 8, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  12. ^ Schneider, Michael (February 1, 2022). "Awards HQ Feb. 1: Bel-Air Exclusive, Succession Dominates DGA Nominations, Cobra Kai and More at the PGAs". Variety. Archived from the original on February 2, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  13. ^ Petski, Denise (December 16, 2021). "'Bel-Air': Peacock's 'Fresh Prince' Drama Reboot Sets Super Bowl Sunday Premiere". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 21, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  14. ^ "Shows A-Z – Bel-Air on Peacock". The Futon Critic. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
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