The Fresh Prince’s Family Is Back Together
“Our show meant Black excellence to people.”
It’s been 30 years since Will Smith first hit the streets of Bel-Air as the Fresh Prince. In celebration of the iconic sitcom, HBO Max is debuting a cast reunion special. The new trailer sees the actors re-enter their old home (the set, I mean) and get the family back together.
Smith is joined by Alfonso Ribeiro, who played his brother Carlton, Daphne Maxwell Reid and Janet Hubert who both played Aunt Viv, Karyn Parsons, Tatyana M. Ali, Dj Jazzy Jeff, and Joseph Marcell. The cast also talks about their relationships with the late James Avery, who acted as Uncle Phil.
“Our show meant Black excellence to people,” says Ali. “The excellence was the way we loved each other.”
The trailer shows the cast discussing the impact of the show, cast friendships, behind the scenes decisions, and the live tapings that happened every Friday during filming, which Smith calls “a full on experience.”
Smith also reveals a touching moment between him and Avery, who he says was a “six-foot-four Shakespearean beast.”
“I wanted him to think I was good,” says Smith, talking about the scene where his character famously asked, “Why don’t he want me man?” while speaking about his father. Smith remembers, “I fall into [Avery’s] arms at the end of the scene, and he’s holding me and the shot pans off, and he whispered in my ear, ‘Now that’s acting.’”
The special will become available for streaming on Nov. 19 on HBO Max. Until then, fans can stream the show on the platform and catch up on all their favorite memories.