The first teaser for Bel-Air, the Fresh Prince reboot, has landed, and it has a dramatic recreation of the original's iconic theme song.
From one prince 👑 to the next 👉🏾 #BelAirPeacock streaming in 2022. pic.twitter.com/nr8MIpWux9
— Peacock (@peacockTV) November 23, 2021
The familiar lyrics, with Will introducing the story all about how his life got flipped, turned upside down, are present and correct, but this ain't the version you remember from the 1990s. Instead of the hip-hop beat from the original, this version is a slower, more dramatic tune, with heavy tones and a deliberate, almost melancholic delivery. This sure is the drama reboot of the sitcom.
The teaser trailer does not feature the full theme tune, but just a few select lyrics from the original. It's also unclear if this will be the theme tune for the show, or just used as part of Bel-Air's marketing.
In a new press release from the show's creators, showrunners T.J. Brady and Rasheed Newson said, “At its heart, Bel-Air is a coming-of-age story that celebrates the strength and love of the Black family. We have stayed true to the original premise of the legacy series – Will’s life is turned upside down after he is forced to leave West Philly and lands in Bel-Air with its gated mansions and wealth, however, our new series brings Will and the Banks family into the world as we know it now. It's been incredible to bring these iconic characters to life when you tap them into the cultural pulse of our time. The series was the fabric of so many of our upbringings, tied to memories and the joy of seeing ourselves represented on TV so it is important to us to pay respect to its legacy.”
Last year the original cast of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reunited on HBO Max for a reunion special, celebrating the show's 30th anniversary. More recently, the cast of Bel-Air was recently announced, which will see newcomer Jabari Banks step into the shoes of Will Smith's character, Will.
Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer.