Word: This story incorporates spoilers from “Bel-Air” Season 4, Episode 8.
“Bel-Air” creator Morgan Cooper defined how that large shock cameo with Oscar profitable actor and authentic “Contemporary Prince of Bel-Air” star Will Smith got here to life on display for the Peacock present’s fourth and ultimate season.
“We needed to shock everybody, so it was vital that we saved that second for our viewers,” Cooper advised TheWrap about holding the particular look below wraps. “This present day, with simply so many media retailers and so many sources of knowledge it’s really easy for a leak. It’s tougher to seek out ourselves being shocked by something now … So it was vital for us to carry that again and permit our viewers to expertise this actually stunning second between Will and Jabari.”
The massive scene occurs simply moments earlier than the tip of Episode 8, titled “The Subsequent Act.” As Jazz (Jordan L. Jones) drove Will (Jabari Banks) and Carlton (Olly Sholotan) to the airport earlier than their flight to Philly, Will requested if they might make a fast cease at an overlook of Los Angeles. After having fun with the views, Jazz urged they head out rapidly to beat visitors, however Will wants just some extra seconds too seep in his final appears to be like of sunny California. Carlton and Jazz go away him alone together with his ideas, however as he’s processing what’s subsequent to come back, a well-recognized face joined him to provide him some phrases of knowledge.
And it’s precisely who you assume it’s — Will Smith himself. Whereas Smith’s character by no means reveals his id to Will, their dialog hints that Will is speaking to his future self however doesn’t realize it.
“Moving into the long run’s form of scary, huh?” Smith asks younger Will.
“Nah, I, I’m … cool,” Will says proudly however with noticeable hesitation.
“It’s OK … I received’t inform ya boys,” Smith responds, incomes fun from his youthful self.
The digicam facilities in on the 2 Wills because the background blurs, displaying that Will has shifted in a mode of self-reflection. He shares his issues with Smith’s character that he as soon as thought he’d lose sight of who he was when he got here to Los Angeles, and that now that he’s heading residence, he doesn’t wish to neglect who he’s develop into.
“Don’t fear about having all of the solutions, no one does. Not even the individuals who faux like they do,” Smith explains. “Belief me, you’re going to mess some issues up and do some dumb s—t, however you’re human. You’ll be taught, you’ll develop, and simply reside and snort and cry. Eat a cheesesteak, simply not every single day ’trigger ldl cholesterol is actual. Life goes by quick. Attempt to benefit from the journey.”
He wraps up his recommendation by filling Will in on a “little secret”: “We’re going to be alright.”
Will’s face exhibits a little bit of confusion, however he by some means understands what the mysterious man is telling him. After a fist bump, Carlton checks again in with Will to get again on the highway. When Will tells Carlton that he was simply getting some a lot wanted “data” from his new buddy, he turns to seek out that Smith is gone.
Cooper advised TheWrap that conversations about how Smith can be included into the present began up when Smith was filming “King Richard.” Initially, they needed Smith to star as Will’s father, Lou, however resulting from scheduling conflicts, it by no means labored out. Finally, actor and comic Marlon Wayans got here in for the function.
“It simply didn’t trip together with his different tasks, and so we weren’t in a position to make that occur,” Cooper stated. “However since day one, that was at all times one thing that we needed to do, and it was only a matter of discovering the proper second. And for that to be the ultimate second of the sequence simply felt so proper. All of it led as much as that, however was at all times within the playing cards.”
“Bel-Air” showrunner Carla Banks Waddles penned the episode, together with Will and Smith’s chat, which Cooper stated the Oscar winner seamlessly dropped at life.
“When Will steps on set, he drops in. So he’s in a position to simply drop in so rapidly into the fabric,” Cooper defined. “And that’s what nice performing is, having the ability to take phrases on a web page and make it actual and to attach with them on an emotional degree. So to see the efficiency that he gave us was such a robust expertise, working with him and bringing that scene to life.”
He added that Banks was greater than prepared for the meta of all of it.
“That’s the factor I really like about Jabari: he’s fearless. It doesn’t matter who he’s standing subsequent to, Jabari goes to do what he does on the highest degree. And he at all times comes ready; he was ready day of. He was very comfy,” Cooper stated. “It was such a full circle [moment] for Jabari to step into the function of Will and embody this reimagined character for years now, and to have the ability to share display time with the largest actor of all time … He didn’t flinch, and he was prepared.”
“Bel-Air” Season 4 is now streaming on Peacock.
