‘Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ Drama Reboot in the Works, Will Smith Attached as Executive Producer

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe CW is developing a drama series that hails from Damon Wayans Jr.’s Two Shakes Entertainment, Variety has learned exclusively.The project is titled “The Pretenders.” In the show, a seemingly normal suburban family is hiding a big secret: they’re actually individual assets in the Witness Protection Program, placed together to provide safe cover for three of the assets who are unrelated minors.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCBS All Access is developing a series about former NYPD detective Derrick Parker with Tip “T.I.” Harris attached to star and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson onboard as an executive producer, Variety has learned.The project is currently titled “Twenty Four Seven.” It is based on the book “Notorious C.O.P.: The Inside Story of the Tupac, Biggie, and Jam Master Jay Investigations from NYPD’s First ‘Hip-Hop Cop'” by Parker and Matt Diehl.During his time with the NYPD, Parker worked

Joe Otterson TV ReporterOWN has given a straight-to-series order to the drama series “Delilah,” which hails from “Greenleaf” creator Craig Wright, Variety has learned.The series will star Maahra Hill as Delilah Connolly, a headstrong, highly principled lawyer living in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCarlos Portugal is developing the one-hour mystery drama “Miss NG” at HBO Max, Variety has learned exclusively.The series is set in the small town of Nuevo Guerrero, where nothing is more important than the annual Miss Nuevo Guerrero beauty pageant. But when last year’s winner goes missing, her former best friend, her arch-rival and her half-sister all enter the upcoming pageant.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSusan Lewis is joining ABC Signature as senior vice president and head of drama development.Lewis will officially join the studio on Aug. 31 and will report to Tracy Underwood.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSeth MacFarlane and Chadwick Boseman are teaming as executive producers on a limited series about the Little Rock Nine that is currently in development at Universal Content Productions (UCP).The untitled series is set in 1957 after the landmark Supreme Court decision of Brown v. Board of Education.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterApple is getting into the music competition series space.The streamer has ordered the series “My Kind of Country,” which will feature a global search for country music talent. Per Apple, the series will feature a documentary component as it hunts for “unconventional and extraordinary” country music stars.Adam Blackstone will serve as the musical director on the series.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterPeacock has landed the series reboot of “Clueless” centered on the character Dionne for development, Variety has learned exclusively.The untitled comedy series is described a baby pink and bisexual blue-tinted, tiny sun-glasses wearing, oat milk latte and Adderall-fueled look at what happens when queen bee Cher disappears and her lifelong number two Dionne steps into Cher’s vacant Air Jordans.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterTess Sanchez, the executive vice president of casting for Fox Entertainment, has left the company, Variety has learned.“We are reorganizing our casting department and made the difficult decision to eliminate the Executive Vice President position,” a Fox Entertainment spokesperson said in a statement.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNBC has announced the premiere date for “Transplant,” the Canadian medical drama acquired by the broadcast network back in May.The 13-episode series will begin airing on NBC on Sept. 1 at 10 p.m.

Will Smith’s Westbrook Studios and Universal TV will serve as the studios. Cooper will direct and co-executive produce the potential series, which he is co-writing with Chris Collins.

Will Smith is revamping his hit sitcom The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air as a TV drama series.Superfan Morgan Cooper caught Smith’s eye early last year (2019) when he posted a fake trailer for the show, reimagined as a drama, on YouTube.The four-minute clip, which Cooper created and directed, went viral and now Smith has recruited him to turn the dream scenario into a full series.Cooper will work with The Wire’s Chris Collins to write the script, which he will also direct and executive produce.

“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” is the latest sitcom to get the reboot treatment, but don't expect it to be the fun show fans know and love. The beloved 1990s sitcom about a street-smart kid from Philadelphia who is forced to move in with his well-off uncle in the ritzy California neighborhood of Bel-Air ran for six seasons and catapulted Will Smith to the stardom he enjoys today.

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, that made Will Smith a household name, is being rebooted. Not remade, with smart phones and , but rebooted as a dark, high-intensity drama. The tale of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reboot is just as wild and unlikely as the tale of a teenage boy who goes from shooting some b-ball in the neighborhood to drinking orange juice out of a champagne glass.

“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” may be coming back, but with a whole new style.

Morgan Cooper is a name that you might not know right now, but you really should. Especially if you’re someone that hopes to one day make a name for yourself in the film and TV industry.