Content Warning: the following is speculate fiction.
Now this is a story all about how
Your life got flipped-turned upside down
And we’d like to take a minute
Just sit right there
To tell you how they got back together the fam of Bel-AirIn west-ish Hawaii (probably hey)
On the deck by the shore they spent most of their day
Chillin’ out maxin’ relaxin’ all cool
And all shooting shit outside of the pool
When a couple of guys who were up to all good
Started making rumours in the neighbourhood
Y’all got in one little TV show and it no longer airs
We said “Y’all need to do a reunion of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”
Or, to put it another way, the cast of ‘Fresh Prince’ got together for a reunion pic, and WE NEED A REVIVAL RIGHT THE HELL NOW.
Alfonso Ribeiro (Carlton) posted the reunion pic with fellow ex-castmates / family members Tatyana Ali (Ashley), Karyn Parsons (Hilary), Will Smith (c’mon), Daphne Etta Maxwell (Vivian) and Joseph Marcell (Geoffrey), fuelling reboot rumours like you wouldn’t believe.
“Always amazing to spend an afternoon with my Fresh Prince family,” he wrote. “Wishing that James Avery was still with us to make this complete.”
Avery – who played beloved soul Uncle Phil – sadly died in 2013 as a result of complications from heart surgery.
Ali reposted the photo with the caption: “A wonderful afternoon with family. We miss you James <3.”
Since a photo of Will Smith looking like he was legit becoming Uncle Phil emerged (despite the fact that the two are actors playing family and not at all related), speculation has been rife about what a possible reboot could look like.
“@90syears: Will Smith starting to look Uncle Phil ?? pic.twitter.com/XkpRgIQRGb“
— Shaun Sears (@Shaun_Chuck) March 21, 2017
This thread by director and writer Xaier Burgin is quality nostalgic TV gold.
Plot Twist: Will Smith is prepping for the remake of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, but he’s the Uncle this time. https://t.co/PBQdbu9iWk
— X (@XLNB) March 14, 2017
Rather than call the show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, I do like the idea of calling it #UncleWill and it moreso focuses on Will’s character
— X (@XLNB) March 16, 2017
For many of us, the interest is following the character of Will. During that time we’d want to find out what’s up with everyone else.
— X (@XLNB) March 16, 2017
What’s Carlton doing? How’s Aunt Viv holding up now? Has Hilary settled down? Is Ashley in grad school now? What’s Jazz up to?
— X (@XLNB) March 16, 2017
Then of course, you can introduce a younger generation of the family. Will should be the main focus + whoever comes in as his son and/or…
— X (@XLNB) March 16, 2017
…the kid he’s taking in as #UncleWill. That could be Jeff’s kids, or maybe Carlton’s kid(s) needs a lesson on not being spoiled?
— X (@XLNB) March 16, 2017
I doubt Will would go for this, but I damn sure know I could write this world. Plus, Will would have 100% creative control.
— X (@XLNB) March 16, 2017
He really could make this show exactly how he’d like because there would be so much hype around it, plus folks would tune in.
— X (@XLNB) March 16, 2017
To recap: #UncleWill is a comedy following Will Smith,twenty seven years after living with his relatives in Bel-Air,as he learns to connect-
— X (@XLNB) March 16, 2017
-with his own son in this new era of blackness, while deciding to take in his cousin Carlton’s son or daughter who needs to learn the-
— X (@XLNB) March 16, 2017
-lessons of life outside of their comfy Bel-Air existence.
— X (@XLNB) March 16, 2017
MAKE. IT. HAPPEN.
Photo: Fresh Prince.