Jabari Banks as Will with Will Smith in a series finale cameo in 'Bel-Air.' Peacock Share on Facebook Share on X Google Preferred Share to Flipboard Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Send an Email Print the Article Post a Comment Logo text [This story contains major spoilers from the series finale of Bel-Air.] Back in 2019, Kansas City native Morgan Stevenson Cooper made a bold move by releasing his vision for re-imaging the trailblazing sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Though the series premiered back in 1990, it remained a present force available on multiple streaming platforms - so most people saw no need for a reboot. Fortunately for Cooper, his vision resonated with the Fresh Prince himself, Will Smith. And with that huge endorsement and collaborating force, Bel-Air boldly premiered Feb. 13, 2022, on Super Bowl Sunday, on NBC's then-new streaming service Peacock. Related Stories TV Simu Liu's Brain Has Been Hacked in Peacock's 'Copenhagen Test' Trailer TV Mandy Moore to Star in Peacock Erotic Thriller from 'Gypsy' Creator Lisa Rubin Now four seasons and 38 episodes later, the series' newcomer cast of Jabari Banks, Olly Sholotan, Coco Jones, Akira Akbar and, of course, Adrian Holmes, Cassandra Freeman, Jimmy Akingbola and Jordan L. Jones as the beloved Will, Carlton, Hillary, Ashley, Uncle Phil, Aunt Viv, Geoffrey and Jazz, resepctively, has also concluded. And to close it out, Oscar winner and global box office star Smith showed up in a cameo in the final minutes to reassure the younger Will that making mistakes is just a part of life. "Trust me, you're going to mess some things up and do some dumb shit. But you're human - you'll learn, you'll grow," says Smith in the cameo. "Life goes by fast, man, try to enjoy the ride." To further calm young Will's worries about returning to Philly as an Ivy Leaguer to Penn - and fearing losing the person he's evolved into in his years away in Bel-Air - the seasoned Will reassures him of a bright future ahead. "I'll let you in on a little secret: we're going to be alright," he says as they overlook Los Angeles and fist bump. Written by Bel-Air showrunner Carla Banks Waddles and directed by Cooper, the ending is a moment filled with "gratitude," Cooper tells The Hollywood Reporter. "These past six, seven years since getting the show off the ground have been such a beautiful whirlwind - creating something that ultimately stands on its own." From day one, he says the goal was always "to create something from the heart, something that felt inspired that I think defied the expectations of many re-imaginings or reboots." That success comes from the fact that "this idea wasn't born in the C-suite. It was born in my head driving down the 71 Highway in Kansas City. That type of inspiration and of creative output can always be felt in the texture of a project." It wasn't an easy process, however. "We were a COVID production in season one," he recalls, noting the challenging era. "Everybody just showed up every day to do their best work. So I'm just very proud of the commitment this cast and crew showed since day one." Now, he says to have ended the series on such an emotionally resonant note is a blessing. Below, he speaks to THR about directing Smith for the first time, as well as what he hoped to achieve with Bel-Air - and what he refused to compromise along the way - as well as reflecting on the legacy and responsibility Quincy Jones and Smith entrusted him with. *** This was your first time directing Will Smith. How did you calm your nerves? I've always handled pressure well. That's one attribute that has helped me in my career. When it's high pressure, high stakes, I like and enjoy those environments. I'm from Kansas City. Being from the Midwest we love those moments. We focus on the work and don't let the moment overwhelm by taking it shot by shot: Show up organized and prepared, ready to do the job. When you're ready and prepared, that instills confidence to be able to do it. And when you're confident, those nerves start to melt away. When you started this journey and got to the development process, what were your non-negotiables? What were some principles you were never willing to compromise? I've never been asked that before. What a great question. That the show start in West Philadelphia, on location. That was something incredibly important to me, that we give context to Will's life before he got to Bel Air. If you think about that journey, that was always a missing link. The original Fresh Prince pilot picks up with Will knocking on the door and we're in Bel Air. What was his life like before? What was the environment he woke up to, what were the sounds he woke up to every day? Giving that context makes the whole series work, because we understand what his life was like. So that was an absolute non-negotiable. Casting was a non-negotiable for everyone. If we don't cast this right