WATCH: ‘The Fresh Prince’ Is Reimagined As A Modern Day Gritty Drama
With "Bel-Air," director Morgan Cooper adds a more dramatic twist to the cheerful '90s sitcom.
In a new concept trailer by writer and director Morgan Cooper, the cherished and cheerful ‘90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is thoughtfully transformed into a darker, modern-day drama.
Simply titled “Bel-Air,” the three-minute trailer reveals a more troubled side of Will, who is sent to California by his distraught mother after being caught with a handgun at the neighborhood basketball court. Rather than wearing the colorful and vibrant ‘90s attire that defined the Fresh Prince, modern-day Will sports a “What Would Meek Do?” sweatshirt, complete with skinny jeans and Jordans on his arrival to the extravagant city of Bel-Air.
We watch Will and his difficulties adjusting to his new environment, and we’re given a taste of the initial conflict he has with Uncle Phil and Carlton. We witness the joyous meeting of Jazz and Will, which marks a turning point in the trailer where the tone becomes lighter. There’s dancing with cousin Ashley, uplifting basketball moments, and overall smiles from our protagonist and the Banks family.
While “Bel-Air” isn’t an official teaser for a full feature film, we’re hopeful that the positive feedback surrounding the project will garner enough attention from production companies who believe in Cooper’s vision. And with the exceptional cinematography behind the trailer alone, we’re quite certain that Cooper has a promising filmmaking career ahead of him. Check out the trailer below, and stay up to date with Morgan Cooper by visiting his Instagram and Twitter.
