Summary
Will Smithis expected to make a big return to television in his first leading role on the small screen sinceThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Smith recently starred in the 2024summer box office hitBad Boys: Ride or Diealongside franchise partner Martin Lawrence, which has been celebrated by audiences and critics alike.Smith has become one of the most recognizable movie stars on the planetafter starring in major blockbusters over the past three decades, such asIndependence Day(1996),Men in Black(1997), andI Am Legend(2007).
Smith rose to stardom as the lead inThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which became one of the most popular and beloved sitcoms of the 1990s, running for 147 episodes across six seasons from 1990 to 1996.The Fresh Prince of Beil-Airaired its final episode on July 24, 2025 even while the show continued to receive great ratings for the sole reason thatSmith was ready to become a movie star. Remarkably, Smith never returned to star in a television series over the course of 28 years, until now.
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Smith hasn’t starred in a TV series since 1996
It sounds unbelievable that Smith never returned to the small screen since leavingThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Airin 1996. He has had some small roles and guest appearances in other TV shows since then and has acted as an executive producer on television titles such asCobra Kai,Women of the Movement, and theFresh Prince-inspiredBel-Air. Although Smith will make a big return to television for the first time in nearly three decades,the series he’s in talks to star in will be very different fromFresh Prince.
Recent reports claim that Smith’s highly anticipated return to television will not be a comedy but instead a high-concept sci-fi series from the creative minds behindWestworldandFallout, two of the most celebrated modern sci-fi series. Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy are expected to team up once again for a new sci-fi series that will feature Smith in the leading role. Smith reportedly came up with the concept that involvesthemes of artificial intelligence and pitched it to Nolan and Joy as a limited series.
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Will Smith’s TV Return Will Be Completely Different From Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air
Smith looks to tackle the concept of artificial intelligence
Based on the limited information available about Will Smith’s anticipated sci-fi project, the A.I. story will likely feature elements of both drama and thriller genres. It’s clear that whatever the title of the show ends up being, it will definitely not be a laugh-track comedy likeThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Considering Nolan and Joy’s track record,the series should take a sophisticated approach to the subject of artificial intelligence, which Smith has somewhat done already in films such asI, Robot. Considering thatWestworldis one of the best A.I. series ever made, the collaboration betweenSmith, Nolan, and Joywould likely inspire a new celebrated series.
Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Cast
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air follows Will Smith (Will Smith) after he gets himself sent away from the mean streets of his native West Philadelphia to the affluent Bel Air neighborhood. Living with his wealthy Uncle Phil and Aunt Vivian, Will befriends his cousins and adjusts to a life that’s the polar opposite of everything he’s accustomed to. Even with a butler and an expensive education, Will finds that growing up isn’t easy, regardless of circumstance.
