Why does there always seem to be drama on the Fresh Prince of Bel Air sets? Remember in the original series Janet Hubert was recast as Aunt Viv after season three because she and Will Smith were not getting along? It looks like the Fresh Prince reboot is suffering from the same drama. Bel Air, the Fresh Prince reboot that was picked up for two seasons by Peacock, and is based off of Morgan Cooper’s three minute viral video set in current day, has had a few setbacks. In December, showrunner Chris Collins left the show and his replacement Diane Houston (Empire) came on board. Now Diane has now also exited the show. As it stands, writers T.J. Brady and Rasheed Newson will be the showrunners and I am not feeling good about it. Here are a few more details fromPeople:
Chris Collins will no longer be serving as showrunner and executive producer on the reboot, titled Bel-Air, as the show will be “going in a slightly different creative direction,” according to The Hollywood Reporter, which was first to report the news.
Per THR, Collins left Bel-Air in December and was replaced by Empire’s Diane Houston, who has also since left the show. Following her departure, writers T.J. Brady and Rasheed Newson stepped in to take over as showrunners.
The upcoming series is inspired by cinematographer Morgan Cooper’s 2019 fan trailer titled Bel-Air — which is a dramatic reimagining of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
Cooper’s drama is set in modern day and highlights serious issues, such as police brutality, gang crime and wealth inequality. It also explores what it’s like for a Black family to live in Bel-Air in today’s social climate.
I was really irritated with this story and had a conversation with Celebitchy about it. We think they’re trying to take the story in a different direction from the original vision. Everyone got hyped about this reboot because of Morgan’s reimagined version of the show. Morgan’s viral video hit home and resonated on so many levels. If the show is already experiencing this much turnover, it is going to be a hot mess. Bel Air was literally the only reboot that I was looking forward to. Reading about the turnover has me nervous and skeptical that the show will be any good. I hope the writers who are now showrunners will stick to the plan and continue with Morgan Cooper’s original vision. Otherwise the show will be dead in the water.
Photos credit: LFI/Photoshot via Avalon.red and via Instagram
I missed that this was going on! That trailer/movie looks really good. I hope they’re still able to make this happen!
I agree with the theory that they are changing direction. Peacock/NBC needs a bonafide hit not based on a wondery podcast which hasn’t happened for them in a long time.
They probably want to slide back into being a comedy which is just not what the new show looks like. It’s good version of the aughts dark and gritty reboots and they shouldn’t mess with it.
That’s what I’m thinking too. They’re going to reboot back to the old style.
The trailer is amazing. Why they didn’t just follow that path is confusing.
You cannot reboot a successful comedy without the original cast. Even reboots with the original cast have trouble succeeding. Bel Air was a genius reboot because it was a fresh premise more than a real reboot.
I sure hope the different creative direction is not turning it comedic. It’s doomed if that’s the case.
Charlie’s angels, charmed, Dynasty, Kung Fu the legend continues and even the upcoming Walker of walker texas ranger are all reboots that’s well with new cast. Exception to maybe 1 carry over cast member.
This fresh prince reboot is weird. They took the original cast of a comedy series and intend to make it into a drama? The trailer works well with those different actors. Idk what they’re thinking with original cast.
Wiglet- the examples you mentioned are not sitcoms. And the original cast is not in this Fresh Prince reboot. That’s why it will fail if they turn it comedy.
I think the trailer looks amazing, and NBC/Peacock are idiots if they want to change direction for the show.
Typical suits: “What a fresh, new idea! Now just make it more like the old one!”
I went to a signing once for WS. He was an asshole. He misspelled my name and when i asked if he could resign in a new photo. He looked at me in a condescending pissed off way then he did a loud overexagared sigh. Then handed me a new one. Wtf? I was paying for my autograph it wasn’t free not extra theatrics. Bro just give me my autograph.