The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was Will Smith’s ticket into the movie industry where he is now considered a legend. The history and legacy of the iconic Black sitcom cannot be overstated. So, when rumors of a dramatic reimagining of the show began circulating, fans were unsure if anyone could ever fill Will Smith’s shoes and the fictionalized version of himself. Fortunately, the creators gave it their best shot in finding the perfect stand-in for the Oscar-winning actor in Peacock’s Bel-Air- Jabari Banks.

Will Smith recently decided to have some with his character’s Gen Z counterpart, Jabari Banks, with a TikTok trend, for this special reason.  

Will Smith has always lauded Jabari Banks for reinventing his popular character from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Recently, as the reboot launched its third season, Smith joined Banks in taking on the 'I'm Just A Kid' TikTok challenge. In this trend, users usually recreate a childhood photo with their parents, siblings, or friends as adults and share the results. Smith captioned the video with, “It takes two to make a thing go right”, showcasing Banks as the iconic 90’s sitcom character.

Unlike the original series, the revamped The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air unfolds during the summer, with even spicier antics than fans saw during the school year. And the fact that Bel-Air is not just a copy-and-paste job of the original has particularly won fans over. Still, Banks is often compared to Will Smith, largely due to his uncanny resemblance to the real-life star. However, the 26-year-old takes it all in stride.

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Back in 2022, Jabari Banks opened up about how he really feels about these comparisons with Will Smith.

Jabari Banks himself has long been a huge fan of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. He recalls watching the show when he barely even knew what a television was. And that is not all, Banks was born in Philadelphia, the same city where his character Will is from and where Will Smith grew up as well. With such connections, it is no wonder Banks sees it as an “honor” and “privilege” to carry forward the Bad Boys star’s legacy, as he shared with 9Entertainment ahead of the release of Bel-Air's second season.

Banks also confessed that he has been deeply inspired by Will Smith and hopes “to do the same for the next generation.” The young actor has also appreciated Smith for supporting him in the reboot, particularly in season 3. Bel-Air dives into everything from racial tension to culture shocks and Black excellence. And while the dynamics keep shifting with each new season, Bel-Air has certainly breathed new life into the iconic The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

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What do you think about Will Smith and Jabari Banks’ reel? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!