The New ‘Fresh Prince’ Has Been Cast!

The new “Prince” has been crowned!

On Tuesday, Variety reported that newcomer Jabari Banks has been cast in the upcoming dramatic reboot of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” playing the character that Will Smith popularized in the iconic ’90s sitcom.

Similar to Smith and his character “Will,” Banks currently lives in West Philadelphia, and even graduated from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia in 2020. (Per the Philadelphia Inquirer, Banks is believed to be from Atlanta).

As seen in a video posted by Peacock on Tuesday, Smith surprised Banks in a Zoom call, informing him that he landed the part!

The reboot, titled “Bel-Air,” is based on a viral video directed by Morgan Cooper, which reimagined the sitcom as a drama series.

With Cooper set as co-writer, director, and executive producer, the new show — which landed a two-season order from Peacock back in September 2020 — is set in modern-day America and will follow Will as he moves from West Philadelphia to Bel-Air.

The original comedy debuted in September 1990 and ran for six seasons, until May 1996.

While speaking to The Inquirer, Justin Luján, the program director for acting at Banks’ alma mater, called the future star a “jack of all trades.”

“He sings, he dances, he acts, he raps, and he plays basketball, which is what got him this role,” he said. “And in that way, he’s like Will Smith.”

Last year, Smith and his former “Fresh Prince” castmates — including Tatyana Ali (Ashley Banks), Karyn Parsons (Hilary Banks), Joseph Marcell (Geoffrey Butler), Daphne Maxwell Reid (Vivian Banks), Alfonso Ribeiro (Carlton Banks), and DJ Jazzy Jeff (Jazz) — reunited to celebrate the show’s 20th anniversary.

James Avery, who played Phillip “Uncle Phil” Banks, sadly passed away in 2013.

The November HBO Max special also featured an appearance from Janet Hubert, who played Aunt Vivian until she was replaced by Reid in 1993. During the program, Smith and Hubert sat down and squashed their highly publicized beef.

Back in 2016, Hubert appeared on our show to discuss her feud with Smith, and asserted that she was “professional” and “never difficult” on set.

Watch that clip, below.