Peacock is pulling all the stops for the final season of Bel-Air, adding Tyra Banks as a guest star more than 3 decades after she appeared in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Season 4 premieres on November 24.
Banks will play a former college classmate with a big personality, with whom Viv (Cassandra Freeman) is reluctantly reunited. In the original series, Banks played Will’s (Will Smith) ex-girlfriend from Philly, Jackie Ames. Her Bel-Air character is new and not related to Jackie.
Banks is one of four Fresh Prince of Bel-Air characters to appear in the Peacock series, all of whom played new roles: Daphne Maxwell Reid, who played Aunt Viv #2 in the OG series, portrayed Helen in Season 1, Episode 9; Vernee Watson-Johnson, who played Will’s mom Vy Smith in the OG series, portrayed Janice in same episode as Maxwell Reid; and Joseph Marcell, who played butler Goeffrey in Fresh Prince, portrayed someone from Geoffrey’s past in Season 3.
Inspired by Morgan Stevenson Cooper’s viral trailer that reimagined the ‘90s sitcom, Bel-Air takes a dramatic and raw approach to this world of swagger, style, and aspiration, while exploring Will’s (Jabari Banks) complex journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air through a current lens.
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In Season 4, Will tries to balance the fun and excitement of senior year with the expectations that have brought him to this moment. Carlton (Olly Sholotan) tests his own resolve as he deals with the fallout of some very big decisions that could threaten his future. Together, both boys will help each other through this pivotal time in their lives.
An unexpected power shift will threaten the brotherhood between Phil (Adrian Holmes) and Geoffrey (Jimmy Akingbola), whose loyalties to the Banks family will be tested. Viv struggles with reinventing herself as she looks at motherhood from a different perspective. It’s Ashley’s (Akira Akbar) freshman year in high school, and she’s working through a rebellious phase, but quickly learns that the status quo may no longer serve her. Hilary (Coco Jones) goes on a journey of self-exploration.
Carla Banks Waddles is Bel-Air‘s showrunner, writer, and executive producer. Morgan Stevenson Cooper, Will Smith, Terence Carter, James Lassiter, Miguel Melendez, Benny Medina, Quincy Jones, and Andy and Susan Borowitz also EP. David Boorstein, Des Moran, Shukree Tilghman, and Felicia Pride co-executive produce.
Directors this season include Nick Copus (401, 402), Keesha Sharp (403, 404), Tina Mabry (405, 406), and Morgan Stevenson Cooper (407, 408). The series is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, and Westbrook Studios.