Bel-Air (film)

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 in the style of Ryan Coogler films.[1] It was uploaded on YouTube on March 10, 2019.[2][3] 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.[4][5][6]

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

Plot

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.

Cast
  • Jerry Madison as Will Smith (originally played by Will Smith)
  • Sherri Roulette-Mosley as Vy Smith (originally played by Vernee Watson)
  • Granvile O’Neal as Uncle Phil Banks (originally played by James Avery)
  • Kira Ashby as Aunt Viv Banks (originally played by Janet Hubert-Whitten and Daphne Maxwell Reid)
  • Jelani Talib as Carlton Banks (originally played by Alfonso Ribeiro)
  • Rufus Burns as Jazz (originally played by Jeffrey Townes)
  • Sada K. as Hilary Banks (originally played by Karyn Parsons)
  • Khrystal Coppage as Ashley Banks (originally played by Tatyana M. Ali)
  • Jada Paige as Lisa Fuller

NOTE: The character Geoffrey Butler (portrayed by Joseph Marcell in the original series) does not appear in the reboot.

Production

Morgan Cooper shot the Philadelphia sequences of Bel-Air in his hometown of Kansas City, Missouri, in a span of six months.[2]

Reception

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.[7][8]

gollark: Yes, which I prefer to Go.
gollark: ÆÆÆÆÆÆÆÆÆÆÆÆÆÆÆÆÆÆÆÆÆÆÆÆÆÆÆÆÆÆÆ
gollark: GOLANG IS VERY BAD!
gollark: NO!
gollark: *But* it also has horrible perf issues.

References
  1. Niccum, Jon (March 1, 2020). "Kansas City director's career takes off, with boost from Will Smith, Gabrielle Union". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  2. Greene, Andy (March 13, 2019). "Hilarious 'Bel Air' Trailer Reimagines 'The Fresh Prince' as a Dramatic Movie". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  3. Kirkland, Justin (March 14, 2019). "The Fresh Prince Gets a Dramatic Reimagining in the Trailer for Bel-Air". Esquire. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  4. 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.
  5. Jesse Schedeen (August 11, 2020). "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to Be Rebooted as a Drama". IGN.
  6. Lesley Goldberg (August 11, 2020). "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Drama Reboot in the Works". The Hollywood Reporter.
  7. Smith, Will (April 26, 2019). "How I Really Feel About That BEL-AIR Trailer". YouTube. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  8. Parker, Ryan (April 26, 2019). "Will Smith Calls Dramatic Fan-Made 'Bel-Air' Trailer "Brilliant"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
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