There were a few fans of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air that were not sure how to take the news that the classic Will Smith comedy of the 1990s would be getting a reboot, and even less sure when it was then announced that it would not be a comedy reboot, but transform the show into a drama called Bel-Air. It seems that while some fans may have misgivings about the idea, one person who appears to be fully on board with the new reimagined version of the show is Smith himself, who recently said that he believes the new take is “perfectly balanced.”

While Marvel fans could be forgiven for thinking that Smith has gone all Thanos on us, it seems that the former Fresh Prince is more than happy to hype up the new series, which he is an executive producer on, and says it manages to be a perfect hit of nostalgia for fans of the original show, while also bringing a more grounded drama element to the story. Although Smith acknowledged that combining these two elements was not easy for the showrunner, he does think that it has been pulled off in style. Speaking to Deadline, Smith said:

“The pilot for Bel-Air is all the nostalgia you’re going to want, but there are parts where you’re going to stand up and cheer and hold your mouth. It’s such a perfect balance and a reimagining of this world. It’s going to be like, duh, yes, of course there’s a dramatic version of this story. Of course that would be brilliant. It’s like you’re in a new place and at home at the same time, and that’s such a difficult thing to pull off for [creator] Morgan Cooper and the team. I can’t wait for people to see it.”

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Stops Itself Being Compared to The Original by Going in a Different Direction

Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reboot Gets 2 Season Order on NBC's Peacock Streaming

It is sometimes easy to forget that shows and movies that made their debut in the early 90s are now over thirty years old, and there is now a new audience who are exactly the same age as those who watched the show when it came out in 1990 that have never heard of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, except when their parents reminisce. There are few teenagers who would have any interest in watching something their parents say was cool when they were young, and the only way to get around that is a remake or reboot.

It would have been effortless to reboot The Fresh Prince as a comedy series, but in doing so, it would have led to constant comparisons to the original, with those who grew up with the series saying “this bit wasn’t as funny” or “that bit just ripped off the original.” In making the new take on the show closer to a drama, the makers of the reboot have actually done something that other reboots could take note of. They have avoided many of the comparisons, which would have been about the comedy, by simply removing that element from the discussion. Will Smith certainly seems on board with the new approach to the material, and fans will have their chance to decide if it works when The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air premieres on Peacock on February 13th.