Peacock's reboot of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, titled Bel-Air, was a hit after its debut last year. This year, it returns for a second season on February 23 with a new showrunner, a new supporting cast, and new changes. Adrian Holmes spoke to Deadline about the future of the series. Additionally, he discusses the fallout of what happened after Will Smith's infamous Oscars slap. Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith's Westbrook Studios and Universal television produce the series as part of Universal Studio Group. So, how did the viral Oscars moment impact the preparation for the show's second season?
Holmes told Deadline, "Well, there was that thought, but like I said, we have created a lane of our own. We’ve got a fan base that is very loyal. I wasn’t as worried about it, as a lot of people thought." He continues, saying, "Yeah, I wasn’t too worried about it, to be honest. Most people I spoke to were just like, ‘we love the show. It’s such a great show, and what you’ve done with it is just brilliant and genius.’" Holmes says that "it’s something that we all need. It’s like medicine for the community, for the culture. People tap in and they get to be entertained, but they also learn something."
Adrian Holmes Speaks
Holmes went on to discuss the importance of the show's all-around positive narrative. He said, "It’s what the world needs right now. We live in such a sad, dark world, you know? We need as much light as we possibly can. I think our show is that light." He continues to explain that, "our show was recognized with an NAACP Award for Best Drama. We are the number one streaming show on Peacock with over 9 million subscribers. That’s not a small thing. I really take a lot of pride in that because it’s hard to do. So I pray that we will be around for a long time. To re-imagine an iconic sitcom and for it to have legs is a miracle."
Therefore, Holmes doesn't think the event at the Oscars will have an impact on the show's numbers and viewership. However, the question remiains: did Will Smith show up on set this time around? Holmes had an answer for that, as well. He said, "No, not this season, no. He text messaged me. His presence is definitely felt by all of us. We would’ve loved to have seen him. That would have been a nice surprise. But he has a lot going on and you know, hopefully, we’ll see more of him by God’s grace. We’ll have a third, fourth, fifth, and sixth season and beyond. We’ll get to see him some more."
[Via]