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Exclusive: TV lit manager Matt Baldovsky, who recently left Range Media Partners, has joined Adventure Media, the management and production company co-founded in 2022 by former top ICM Partners lit agents Chris Von Goetz and James Robins Early.

Baldovsky’s clients include Munis Rashid (The Night Agent), the Virgin River executive producer duo of creator/original showrunner Sue Tenney and Amy Robertson, Tj Brady & Rasheed Newson (Bel-Air), Johanna Lee (Dune), Lauren Moon (Ransom Canyon), Mnelik Belilgne (Survival of the Thickest), Hank Jones (Will Trent), Kevin & Matthew McManus (Redux Redux) and Amy York Rubin (Dead to Me).

The move reunites Baldovsky with von Goetz and Robins Early as well as fellow Adventure Media partners Melissa Orton-Cortez and Bryan Diperstein. Baldovsky worked with them during his time a TV lit coordinator at ICM while they were agents there.

Von Goetz and Robins Early left on the eve of the agency’s acquisition by CAA in 2022 to launch Adventure.

Exclusive: TV Lit manager Matt Baldovsky has exited Range Media Partners less than two years into his tenure, Deadline has learned.

Sources described this as a mutually agreeable parting of ways that came about as part of Range’s biannual review process. No next destination was given.

Baldovsky has worked over the years with clients including Munis Rashid (The Night Agent), Johanna Lee (Dune), Tj Brady & Rasheed Newson (Bel-Air), Sue Tenney & Amy Robertson (Virgin River), Tawnya Bhattacharya & Ali Laventhol (Twin Territories), Lauren Moon (Ransom Canyon), Mnelik Belilgne (Survival of the Thickest), Amy York Rubin (Dead to Me), Hank Jones (Will Trent), Kevin & Matthew McManus (Redux Redux), Jovan Robinson (For All Mankind), and the duo of Josh Kirby & Jon Veles (Stillwaters), among others. The rep is well regarded around town, so chalk this up to another unfortunate result of the contraction in Hollywood that has made business more competitive and unforgiving than ever.

A new Los Angeles-based event will celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride and pop-culture milestones next month.

The producers of L.A’s Infinity Festival, which celebrates the intersection of technology and entertainment, have teamed up with The Hollywood Partnership and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce to present Pride Live! Hollywood, a monthlong celebration of “LGBTQ+ creativity in media and entertainment.”

The lineup will feature a tribute to Norman Lear’s pioneering television work, anniversary celebrations of TV series The Golden Girls and Queer as Folk, documentary premieres, film screenings, panels, parties, interactive events and presentations of disco-era films, along with participation by stars and creatives. Events will take place at venues in and around Los Angeles, including the W Hollywood, the Montalbán Theater, LA Explained, Emerson College, Amoeba Music, the Aster and Lemon Grove, Whisky Hotel Hollywood, NeueHouse Hollywood and more.

Organizers explained that with more than 150,000 people attending the annual L.

Exclusive: C. Thomas Howell (Obliterated) and Sara Canning (The Vampire Diaries) have been cast opposite Ryan Phillippe and Amélie Hoeferle in the feature One Mile and its sequel, One More Mile, from Aaron Kaplan’s Kapital Entertainment and Paramount’s Republic Pictures.

Adam Davidson is directing the movies, which will be filmed simultaneously. Production is slated to begin Sept. 9 on Vancouver Island.

In One Mile and its sequel — written by John Hlavin based with rewrites by Tj Brady and Rasheed Newson — when an estranged father, Danny (Phillippe), and daughter, Alex (Hoeferle), go off for college tours, they get more than they bargained for when they get lost and stumble across a hostile, off-the-grid community.

Howell plays Stanley Dixon, the patriarch of the Dixon family. This charismatic leader is quite a bit more dangerous than the rest of his clan and will do anything to protect the future of his family line.

Bel-Air is a teen drama series developed by Morgan Cooper, Malcolm Spellman, Tj Brady, and Rasheed Newson. Based on the popular Will Smith comedy series titled The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air by Andy and Susan Borowitz, the Peacock series follows the life of Will Smith, a 16-year-old boy as he is sent to gated mansions of Bel-Air to live with his rich aunt and uncle by his mother from the streets of Philadelphia. Bel-Air stars Jabari Banks, Cassandra Freeman, Jimmy Akingbola, Olly Sholotan, Coco Jones, Akira Akbar, Simone Joy Jones, and Jordan L. Jones. So, if you loved the teen drama, tons of glamor, and a heartfelt story in Bel-Air, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Credit – NBC

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is a comedy series created by Andy and Susan Borowitz. The NBC series follows a fictional version of...

Exclusive: Adam Davidson has been tapped as director and producer for the feature One Mile and its sequel, One More Mile, both starring and produced by Ryan Phillippe. German American actress Amélie Hoeferle has been cast as the female lead opposite Phillippe in the films, from Aaron Kaplan’s Kapital Entertainment, which will be filmed simultaneously. Production is slated to begin Sept. 9 on Vancouver Island.

Originally set at Paramount Global Content Distribution in late 2022, the movies have since shifted under Paramount’s Republic Pictures umbrella.

One Mile and its sequel were written by John Hlavin based on an idea by Kaplan’s daughter, Jaiden Kaplan, with rewrites by Tj Brady and Rasheed Newson who worked on Kapital’s Showtime series The Chi. In the films, when an estranged father (Phillippe) and daughter (Hoeferle) go off for college tours, they get more than they bargained for when they get lost and stumble across a hostile,...

Peacock is bringing you a comedy and drama-packed August as it will air some of the best films of this year that you missed in the theaters and some great original movies and TV shows you will want to see. With an original comedy series starring NBA great Stephen Curry and also a beloved romantic action-comedy starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, Peacock is adding so much content in the upcoming month. So, we picked out the 7 best movies and TV shows you should look out for in August 2024.

Mr. Throwback Season 1 (August 8)

Mr. Throwback is a mockumentary-style sports comedy series created by David Caspe, Matthew, and Daniel Libman. The upcoming Peacock series follows the story of Danny, a down-on-his-luck sports memorabilia dealer and former basketball player as he looks for redemption by reuniting with his sixth-grade teammate, NBA legend Steph Curry. Mr. Throwback stars Adam Pally, Stephen Curry, and...

Exclusive: Off the heels of the recent growth capital investment, Range Media Partners has announced a flurry of activity including ten promotions across the company and hiring of four seasoned industry veterans.

“We are very disciplined in our growth strategy from who we hire to who we promote, ensuring our culture and commitment to our clients remains bar none. It’s humbling to welcome new top-tier colleagues at the same time as being able to honor the next generation of all-stars who have already made tremendous contributions to the company over the years through these very well-deserved promotions. On behalf of everyone at Range, we couldn’t be more excited for what’s to come,” Rich Cook & Dave Bugliari, Managing Partners, said in a statement.

On the film & TV side, Andrew Nallathambi and Natalya Yonathan have both been promoted to Managers. Nallathambi began his career at Range as one of...

Jabari Banks as Will and Olly Sholotan as Carlton in ‘Bel-Air’ (Photo by: Casey Durkin/Peacock)

Peacock’s given their popular drama Bel-Air an early season three renewal. According to the streaming service, season two of the modern reimagining of Will Smith’s The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is Peacock’s most-watched original sophomore show.

Jabari Banks leads the cast as Will, with Adrian Holmes starring as Phillip Banks, Cassandra Freeman plays Vivian Banks, Olly Sholotan is Carlton Banks, and Coco Jones is Hilary Banks. Akira Akbar is Ashley Banks, Jimmy Akingbola is Geoffrey, Jordan L. Jones is Jazz, and Simone Joy Jones is Lisa.

Fresh Prince‘s Tatyana Ali appears in a recurring role in season two.

The modern take on Fresh Prince was inspired by Morgan Cooper’s 2019 four-minute spec trailer. Cooper and Will Smith serve as executive producers along with writer and showrunner Carla Banks Waddles. Additional executive producers include Anthony Sparks,...

Bel-Air is getting another go at Peacock.

The streamer announced Friday that the series has been renewed for Season 3. The second season is airing new episodes through April 27.

Related Story We’ll Be Back: Photo Gallery Of TV Series Renewed In 2023 Related Story 'The Tattooist of Auschwitz': Jonah Hauer-King, Anna Próchniak & Melanie Lynskey To Star In Peacock & Sky Drama Series Related Story 'Monk' Returns As Peacock Orders Reunion Movie Starring Tony Shalhoub & Original Series Cast

When it launched on Peacock last year, Bel-Air became the streamer’s most-watched original premiere. With the debut of Season 2, it has become Peacock’s most-watched original sophomore series to date.

Bel-Air is a reimagining of the ’90s Will Smith sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air that follows Will’s (Jabari Banks) complicated journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air. As these two worlds collide, Will reckons...

Peacock’s Bel-Air is nearly matching the number of seasons with its showrunners.

The NBCUniversal-backed streamer has handed out a third-season renewal for its reimagining of Will Smith’s beloved The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The dramatic take on the former comedy series that is inspired by Morgan Cooper’s viral short was originally picked up at Peacock with a two-season order following a competitive bidding process with other streamers vying for the series.

The season three renewal marks its first vote of confidence beyond that initial order and follows a wave of showrunner changes as the drama struggled to find its creative voice. Carla Banks Waddles was recruited as showrunner at the start of season two. The Good Girls and The Soul Man alum was promoted from co-exec producer to showrunner and replaced T.J. Brady and Rasheed Newson (Army Wives, Lie to Me) at the helm of Bel-Air.

Bel-Air creator Morgan Cooper and season two showrunner Carla Banks Waddles are defending executive producer Will Smith following criticisms of his character after he slapped Chris Rock onstage at the 2022 Oscars.

In a new interview published ahead of the second season debut of Bel-Air on Feb. 24, Cooper spoke to Yahoo! Entertainment about the support Smith has given the show and its creative team day in and day out. For the show’s writer and director, he’s “got nothing but good things to say about Will.”

“Will is a great guy, and he’s demonstrated that with his actions throughout the whole Bel-Air development process, back when this was just my short film,” Cooper explained. “I’ve seen the content of his character on a day-to-day basis with this crew, this cast, my producing partners, the network and the studio.”

Morgan added that when it came to Smith’s behavior...

Peacock's revival of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" reunites us with some of our favorite characters, in new form. Newcomer Jabari Banks steps into Will Smith's shoes as Will, while Adrian Holmes plays Banks family patriarch Philip Banks. Vivian (Cassandra Freeman), Carlton (Olly Sholotan), Hilary (Coco Jones), and Ashley Banks's (Akira Akbar) roles have also been recast, while April Parker Jones plays Will's mother. And during the show's season one finale, we finally reunited with Will's father, Lou.

For those who don't remember, Lou (originally played by Ben Vareen) abandoned his family in "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" when Will was just 5 years old, leaving Vy to raise Will on her own. Per Hilary, he was "a deadbeat who left him and his mom flat." Lou went on to become a trucker and was absent for most of Will's life until season four, episode 24 ("Papa's Got a Brand...

After a stellar debut last year, Bel-Air — Peacock’s reboot of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air that featured Will Smith — returns Feb. 23 with a new showrunner, new supporting cast members, and an unexpected challenge: how does the Banks Family persuade a young Will Smith (Jabari Banks) to move back into their fancy mansion?

Here, star Adrian Holmes (who plays Will’s Uncle Phil Banks) talks about where the drama picks up after last March’s big finale — when Will realizes that everything he was told about his long lost dad Lou (Marlon Wayans) wasn’t true at all. Lou didn’t abandon his son; he was just serving time behind bars.

Three new episodes drop tomorrow, followed by a new episode each Thursday. The series hails from Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith’s Westbrook Studios and Universal Television, part of Universal Studio Group.

Deadline What’s the journey been like on this show?...

Exclusive: Peacock has rounded out the recurring cast for Season 2 of Bel-Air with newcomer Al-Shabazz Jabateh (Prime Day Show), Nicholas Duvernay (Purple Hearts), Diandra Lyle (Secrets of Sulphur Springs), Justin Cornwell (The Umbrella Academy) and Reno Wilson (Good Girls).

Bel-Air, based on Morgan Cooper’s popular fan film that reenvisions the 1990s Will Smith sitcom The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air as a drama, hails from Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith’s Westbrook Studios and Universal Television, part of Universal Studio Group. In its first season, it became Peacock’s most streamed original series.

Set in modern-day America, Bel-Air follows Will’s (Jabari Banks) complicated journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air. As these two worlds collide, Will reckons with the power of second chances while navigating the conflicts, emotions, and biases of a world far different from the only one he’s ever known.

As Peacock’s most streamed show, the dramatic reboot of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, simply titled Bel-Air, makes its way into the second season, the series will be bringing in a familiar face. Tatyana Ali, who formally played Ashley Banks in the Will Smith sitcom, is set to play a recurring role in this season of Bel-Air. Ali will be playing an English teacher at the middle school attended by Ashley Banks, played in this incarnation by Akira Akbar, according to Deadline.

Ali’s appearance will take place throughout the season as Peacock is streaming a 10-episode arc that will be starting this February 23. Ali plays Mrs. Hughes, a teacher who sees something special in Ashley, and it’s not secret how poetic the casting is, given how Ali defined the iconic role.

The official synopsis for the second season reads, “Season two of Bel-Air picks up with Will...

Peacock has released a new trailer for Bel-Air season 2 ahead of its February premiere. The iconic Will Smith comedy received a dramatic reimagining in 2022 from Peacock. While still maintaining the main story of the sitcom, Bel-Air takes the franchise in a much more serious and modern direction. Through the current reboot on Peacock, Bel-Air explores social topics via Will and the entire Banks family.

Now, Bel-Air season 2 is getting ready to premiere on Peacock next month. Bel-Air season 2 will see Will “at a crossroads" when a new figure enters his life and challenges what he’s discovered while living in Bel-Air.

At the very end of Bel-Air season 1, the show got into some of its most intense moments ever. As Will learned the truth about his father, he ran away to figure things out. Peacock has debuted a brand new Bel-Air season 2 trailer, giving another glimpse at the show's second year.

The princess of “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” is coming back. Tatyana Ali, who played Ashley Banks in the original NBC sitcom, will guest star in Season 2 of the show’s dramatic re-interpretation “Bel-Air,” Peacock announced January 19.

Ali — whose other credits include the TV One original series “Love That Girl!” and a stint on CBS soap “The Young and the Restless” — will play Mrs. Hughes, an English literature teacher at a Bel-Air middle school. In a wink to the original series, her character will develop a mentorship role across the season with the new version of Ashley (played by Akira Akbar), a precocious 12-year-old.

In addition to announcing the casting, Peacock also released the official trailer for Season 2 of “Bel-Air,” which premieres February 23. The series was inspired by a 2019 viral parody film by Morgan Cooper, which took the basic premise of the original sitcom — a young man runs into trouble in...

Tatyana Ali, who played Ashley Banks in “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” from 1990 to 1996, has joined the cast of the Peacock reboot “Bel-Air.”

In the series’ upcoming second season, Ali will recur as Mrs. Hughes, the middle school English teacher who sees something special in Ashley (played by Akira Akbar in this version), often giving her books from her personal collection. See a first look at Ali as Mrs. Hughes in a new trailer for “Bel-Air” Season 2 below.

“Bel-Air” is a dramatic reimagining of the original comedy series that follows Will’s (Jabari Banks) complicated journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air. As these two worlds collide, Will reckons with the power of second chances while navigating the conflicts, emotions and biases of a world far different from the only one he’s ever known.

Season 2 picks up with Will at a crossroads as...

When “Bel-Air” returns to Peacock for Season 2, it’s getting a huge dose of freshness courtesy of Tatyana Ali, the original Ashley Banks on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” who has joined the dramatic reimagining in a recurring role.

And in the official trailer for the series’ second season, you can catch a glimpse of Ali as new character Mrs. Hughes, an English Literature teacher at Bel-Air middle school who sees something unique in Ashley (Akira Akbar), and begins giving her books to read from her personal collection. Watch the clip now.

Of course the trailer for Peacock’s most-streamed original series also tells us what to expect from the Banks family and the Bel-Air High School students, including some tension between Uncle Phil and Aunt Viv, Will stepping back onto the basketball court and also into some trouble, as well as Carlton’s struggle with anxiety.

But you’re here for Ali,...

A familiar face is about to matriculate on Bel-Air: Tatyana Ali, who played Ashley Banks in The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, is set to recur as an English literature teacher in the second season of the Peacock reboot.

Ali joins stars Jabari Banks (Will), Adrian Holmes (Philip Banks) and Cassandra Freeman (Vivian Banks) in the new, 10-episode season that kicks off Feb. 23 on Peacock. Ali will play Mrs. Hughes, a teacher at Bel-Air middle school who sees something special in Ashley Banks (Akira Akbar).

“In season two, the show will continue to find ways to push the envelope and feel refreshing and unique while also honoring the heart of the legacy series,” said Carla Banks Waddles, the new showrunner who took over for Tj Brady and Rasheed Newson in October. “Last season was very much about the introduction to the Banks family world, and this season we get...

Rap star Saweetie is set to make a cameo in the Season 2 premiere of “Bel-Air” at Peacock, Variety has learned exclusively. In addition, three actors have been cast in the series in recurring roles.

Brooklyn McLinn, Jazlyn Martin, and Riele Downs will all appear in the new season of the drama series take on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”

Saweetie will appear as herself in the show. It will not be her first time acting onscreen, as she previously appeared in multiple episodes of the “Black-ish” spinoff “Grown-ish” at Freeform during the show’s third season.

McLinn will play Doc Hightower, described as “a busy and driven basketball recruiter and Aau Coach who is impressed by Will’s game at Bel-Air Academy.” Martin will play Jackie. Of her character it is said, “Her South L.A. street smarts put Will’s Philly swagger to the test when they are introduced...

“Bel-Air,” the hit series that reimagines the 1990 sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” is coming back with its second season in February, and the characters have a slew of decisions to make according to the Season 2 teaser trailer.

“Life is a series of choices,” says character Will in the opening of the “Bel-Air” Season 2 trailer. The entire trailer is narrated by Will, who is played by Jabari Banks, as the video clip cuts to each of the show’s leads, with Will highlighting some of the challenges each character was faced with in the first season. “Push for what you want, or let people figure it out on their own,” says Will over a visual of Philip Banks, played Adrian Holmes.

You can watch the full teaser in the video above.

The one-hour drama series stars series regulars Banks, Holmes, Cassandra Freeman (Vivian Banks), Olly Sholotan (Carlton Banks), Coco Jones...

Peacock has finally released the first trailer for Bel-Air season 2, as well as revealed the 2023 premiere date. 2022 marked a big year for the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air franchise, as the iconic Will Smith comedy series was rebooted as a one-hour drama show on Peacock. In the dramatized iteration, Bel-Air follows Will coming from West Philadelphia to get on a better path in his life. While exploring all the characters of the 1990s sitcom, Bel-Air also explores modern topics through Will and the Banks family.

While Bel-Air season 1 finished back in March, season 2 is on its way, but it won't be arriving until 2023. However, the wait won't be too long as Peacock released the first teaser trailer for Bel-Air season 2, giving a taste of what's coming up for the series. The streaming service also announced that the first three episodes will premiere on Peacock on Thursday, February 23, 2023, followed by weekly releases.

“No one chooses for me,” Will Smith (played by Jabari Banks) declares in the first teaser for Bel-Air Season 2, which you can check out above.

Peacock also released new photos (below) from the upcoming season, which will premiere with the first three episodes on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023; new episodes will stream weekly.

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Bel-Air...

I’d like to take a minute, just sit right there, I’ll tell you when Season 2 of the “Fresh Prince” reboot is set to air. “Bel-Air” Season 2 will premiere on Peacock February 23, the streamer announced Thursday.

Based on the beloved ’90s sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” which helped launch a young Will Smith to fame, “Bel-Air” was inspired by a 2019 viral parody film by Morgan Cooper. Cooper’s short film took the basic premise of the sitcom — a young man runs into trouble in West Philadelphia and is forced to flee the city to live with his wealthy Los Angeles family — and reimagined it as a gritty drama. The short film caught the attention of Smith, who expressed interest in expanding the premise into a new series, and Cooper ultimately developed the show for Peacock with Malcolm Spellman, Tj Brady, and Rasheed Newson.

Season 1 of “Bel-Air” retold the...

Bel-Air is back, and Will (Jabari Banks) has some decisions to make.

In the teaser for Season 2, which was released Thursday, Banks narrates the 45-second clip, explaining that “life is a series of choices.”

“Set your own rules, or disturb the system,” he says, adding: “We all got choices to make, but this time, no one chooses for me.”

Watch the full trailer below. Bel-Air Season 2 premieres on Peacock February 23 with three episodes, followed by a new episode streaming Thursdays.

Bel-Air follows Will’s complicated journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air. As these two worlds collide, Will reckons with the power of second chances while navigating the conflicts, emotions, and biases of a world far different from the only one he’s ever known.

In Season 2, he is at a crossroads as a new figure comes into his life who challenges what he...

The creative shake-up at Peacock's Bel-Air continues, with the streamer announcing today that it has appointed Carla Banks-Waddles to take over the reins as the showrunner going forward as it prepares to premiere its second season, Variety reveals. Banks-Waddles becomes the fourth person to helm the show, following the recent departure of its second set of showrunners, Tj Brady and Rasheed Newson, due to creative differences.

It wouldn't be the first time the life of "Bel-Air" gets flipped turned upside down. The series, which is a dramatic adaptation of the 1990s comedy "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," once again changes showrunners ahead of its second season.

Carla Banks Waddles, who previously served as a writer and co-executive producer on the first season, will now take over as showrunner from Tj Brady and Rasheed Newson, who departed the series over creative differences, according to a source who spoke with Variety. They will still be credited as executive producers going forward, and Waddles will also receive an executive producer credit. The new showrunner is currently under an overall deal with Universal Television, which produces the series.

Brady and Newson themselves were not the first showrunners on this series. They were named co-showrunners on season 1 after Diane Houston left the show. She took over the helm after the original showrunner,...

The dramatic reimagining of Will Smith‘s classic sitcom Fresh Prince of Bel-Air appears to be having a tough time finding the right showrunner, as Peacock‘s Bel-Air brings in its fourth producer to helm the show. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Carla Banks-Waddles (Good Girls) has been promoted from co-executive producer to executive producer and showrunner for the show’s second season. She replaces T.J. Brady (The Chi) and Rasheed Newson (Lie to Me), who reportedly left due to creative differences with Peacock and producers Universal Television. Banks-Waddles becomes Bel-Air‘s fourth showrunner in its short history. The series, which was given a two-season, straight-to-series order at Peacock, originally had Chris Collins (Sons of Anarchy) on board as showrunner. Collins wanted to produce an edgy, premium series, according to THR sources, while Peacock was looking for a more broad-skewing network-style show. Collins soon departed the show and was replaced by Diane Houston (Empire). However,...

“Bel-Air,” Peacock’s dramatic reimagining of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” began production on its upcoming Season 2 last month. But the show is already being forced to take a hiatus, as showrunners Tj Brady and Rasheed Newson have exited the series due to creative differences, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. Carla Banks Waddles, who previously served as a co-executive producer on the show and an executive producer of “Good Girls” on NBC, has been promoted to showrunner and will also serve as an executive producer for Season 2. Banks Waddles has an overall deal with Universal Television, which produces “Bel-Air.”

“Bel-Air” is the brainchild of Morgan Cooper, whose viral fan film imagined the multi-camera comedy as a contemporary drama that digs into the racial and class-based issues that would inevitably arise from a character moving from West Philadelphia to the ultra-wealthy Los Angeles suburb. The three-minute film...

Peacock’s breakout hit Bel-Air is making a change at the helm for Season 2, which is currently in production. Carla Banks Waddles has been promoted to showrunner. She takes over for Tj Brady and Rasheed Newson who have stepped down from the role over creative differences. The duo remain executive producers on the series, from Westbrrok Studios and Universal Television. The series is taking a brief hiatus as the showrunner transition is taking place.

Former Good Girls EP Banks Waddles, who is under an overall deal at Universal Television, was a co-executive producer on Season 1 of Bel-Air. She is being elevated to executive producer, along with taking over showrunner duties for Season 2.

Bel-Air, based on Morgan Cooper’s popular fan film that reenvisions the 1990s Will Smith sitcom The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air as a drama, hails from Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith’s Westbrook Studios and Universal Television,...

“Bel-Air” is getting a new showrunner — again.

The Peacock drama series is undergoing a change at the top behind the scenes for the third time as it prepares its second season at the NBCUniversal streamer.

Carla Banks Waddles, who previously served as a writer and co-executive producer on Season 1, will now take over as showrunner and executive producer. She takes over from Tj Brady and Rasheed Newson, who have departed the series over creative differences, an individual with knowledge of the situation says. They will still be credited as executive producers going forward.

Waddles is currently under an overall deal with Universal Television, which produces the series. Brady and Newson themselves were named co-showrunners on Season 1 following the departure of Diane Houston. Houston had taken over from the show’s original showrunner, Chris Collins, who departed the show long before Season 1 had aired.

“Bel Air,” a dramatic reboot of the...

Click here to read the full article.

Now this is a story all about how Peacock’s Bel-Air continues to experience growing pains.

The dramatic update of Will Smith’s beloved Fresh Prince of Bel-Air has changed showrunners again. This time, Carla Banks-Waddles has been promoted from co-exec producer to exec producer and showrunner for Bel-Air’s second season as part of her overall deal with studio Universal Television. She replaces T.J. Brady and Rasheed Newson (Army Wives, Lie to Me) at the helm of Bel-Air, which counts Smith and original series creators Andy and Susan Borowitz among its exec producers. Brady and Newson left following creative differences with Peacock and producers Universal Television.

Banks-Waddles, who penned episode seven, becomes Bel-Air’s fourth — you read that right — showrunner. The series, which landed at Peacock with a two-season, straight-to-series order following a multiple-outlet bidding war, originally was picked up with Chris Collins (The Wire,...

Click here to read the full article.

GLAAD has announced its inaugural cohort of 10 creatives for its newly launched Equity in Media and Entertainment Initiative.

Alexander King, Brandon Nicholas, Brit Fryer, Ish Brown, Laquann Dawson, Michael Donte, Nyala Moon, Olivia Peace, Riley Wilson and Whitney Skauge will participate in the three-year program focused on developing and elevating the work and storytelling of Black LGBTQ+ creatives.

Created and led by DaShawn Usher, the director of GLAAD’s Communities of Color and Media department, along with associate director Julian J. Walker and junior associate Kayla Thompson, the initiative — which is also supported by Gilead Sciences — is designed as a pipeline program to help address, and begin to resolve, the existing gap in equitable representation onscreen and behind the scenes in Hollywood.

Each participating creative will be granted 10,000 to fund a current or new creative project to be produced during their time with...

Exclusive: Key programming continues for the 20th annual Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival (Mvaaff) taking place August 5th – 13th.

The festival continues its slate of programming with featured content celebrating Black voices, with documentaries and the signature Q&a series, Color of Conversation from Run & Shoot Filmworks, and Festival Co-Founders Floyd and Stephanie Rance.

“Prime Video hosts Visionary Women: A Conversation with the New Wave of Filmmaking Voices,” featuring writer/director Nikyatu Jusu (Nanny) and writer/director Mariama Diallo (Master) at the Martha’s Vineyard Performing Arts Center. The moderated discussion will be led by acclaimed actress, producer and 2022 Harvard graduate, Yara Shahidi. Through the lens of horror, the conversation between these three remarkable women will dive deep into Nikyatu Jusu and Mariama Diallo’s journey to the director’s chair, pushing genre boundaries, and the cultural discourse illustrated in their storytelling.

Disney’s Onyx Collective continues...

Nearly a quarter century after NBC sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” ended its six-season run, filmmaker Morgan Cooper uploaded a mock trailer for a dramatic reimagining of the series to YouTube, where it has since gained over seven million views. The video’s popularity soon led to the reboot idea becoming a reality in the form of Peacock series “Bel-Air,” which premiered this February. Cooper (who produces the show and directed and wrote part of its first season) recently participated in a 2022 Emmys FYC panel along with showrunners/executive producers T.J. Brady and Rasheed Newson and actors Akira Akbar, Jimmy Akingbola, Jabari Banks, Cassandra Freeman, Adrian Holmes and Coco Jones, moderated by Justin Sylvester from E! News. Watch the video Q&a above.

Brady and Newson, who have produced seven shows together beginning with “Army Wives” in 2012, both admitted they were unsure about how this particular venture would play out,...

The conclusions of dramas like “Ozark” and “Better Call Saul” have ruled cultural conversation about TV in 2022, while new shows such as “Bel-Air” and “As We See It” are a sign of the innovation and creativity to come. Creators and showrunners of some of the top dramas on the small screen came together for Variety’s “A Night in the Writers’ Room” to discuss bringing new ideas to old properties, what it’s like to write a series finale and more.

Moderated by TV features editor Emily Longeretta, the event began with a conversation about what it looks like to run a writers’ room under pandemic restrictions. Each writer offered different perspectives on the pros and cons.

Chris Mundy, writer and executive producer of “Ozark” much prefers in-person writing, but he found that keeping the writing staff consistent allowed the Zoom experience to go as smoothly as possible.

“In the final season of ‘Ozark,...

Inspiration can come from the most unanticipated places, like walking the dog in the park or buying a soft pretzel at the mall. For Morgan Cooper, it came in 2019 while driving down Route 71 in Kansas City, Missouri. Heading home after shooting a low-budget beauty commercial, Cooper concocted a plan to turn ’90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air into a gritty short film, with Will Smith’s iconic character reimagined as an unlucky Philly teen who gets caught with a gun during a playground brawl. Rather than face a certain future behind bars, his Uncle Phil works some attorney magic and arranges for Will to start over in the wealthy Southern California neighborhood where he would attend an elite private school.

Filmed in eight days with hometown actors and locations in Kansas City and Burbank, the three-and-a-half-minute potboiler was never meant to serve as a grassroots resume for a gig...

In the new Peacock series “Bel-Air,” Cassandra Freeman becomes the third actress to take on the role of Aunt Viv. The series reimagines the classic ’90s sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” where Janet Hubert originated the role followed by Daphne Maxwell Reid, and it would be daunting for any actress to step into their shoes. Luckily, “Bel-Air” creator Morgan Cooper and showrunner Rasheed Newson assured her, “Don’t worry about those shoes,” recalls Freeman in an exclusive new webchat for Gold Derby. “‘You’re here to create your own shoes, so what would that look like?’ And that really freed me up.” Watch the video interview above.

The “Bel-Air” version of Vivian Banks is an artist who has put her dreams on the back burner to support her husband’s ambitions of becoming the next District Attorney. At the beginning of the series, we see a woman who enjoys...

Exclusive: Bel-Air breakout star Jabari Banks has signed with WME.

Banks made his acting debut in the Peacock series, a dramatic retelling

of the 1990’s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, in the lead role of Will Smith.

Series co-showrunner Rasheed Newson sang Banks’ praises at Deadline’s Contenders Television event last month.

“If I can brag on Jabari for a quick second here: There’s what you see on screen and that’s talent and that’s great but that’s not the entire job,” Newson said. “You’re No. 1 on the call sheet and you have to show up at 5 o’clock in the morning day in and day out. You have to pace yourself through a lot of pages and a lot of work—and you have to do it during a pandemic. You have to be spot-on every day and that’s a lot. He didn...

Bel-Air has struck a chord with Peacock viewers.

Peacock’s critically-acclaimed drama series Bel-Air has shattered every Peacock record for new subscribers, usage, and upgrades, and has been crowned as the platform’s most-streamed original series reaching 8 million accounts to date.

The series premiered with three episodes on February 13, 2022 (Super Bowl Sunday) with new episodes released weekly on Thursdays and will return next year in 2023 with the original two-season order.

“We’re elated at the positive response to Bel-Air and that this passionate audience quickly solidified the series into the cultural zeitgeist,” said Susan Rovner, Chairman, Entertainment Content, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming.

“Week after week Bel-Air captivated audiences with buzzy cliffhangers and stunning ensemble performances, led by the unmatched Jabari Banks. We can’t wait for what’s in store for season two.”

“The incredible performance of Bel-Airreally demonstrates the power of culture-defining content,” said Kelly Campbell, President, Peacock.

“Bel-Airis...

Because of Peacock’s modest, U.S.-only reach so far (It has more than 28 million monthly active accounts and 13 million paid subscribers), its shows have never made the Nielsen Top 10 weekly streaming rankings. At its newfront today, the NBCUniversal streamer is announcing that new drama Bel-Air is the platform’s most-streamed original series, reaching 8 million accounts to date, and has broken Peacock’s records for new subscribers, usage, and upgrades.

Peacock originally landed Bel-Air, a drama retelling of WIll Smith’s Fresh Prince of Bel-Air sitcom, with a two-season order. Former Queen Sugar showrunner Anthony Sparks is joining the upcoming second season as an executive producer, working alongside executive producers/co-showrunners Tj Brady and Rasheed Newson. Season 2 is slated to return in 2023, with Smith continuing as an executive producer following the Oscar controversy.

Bel-Air was the most heavily promoted Peacock original series to date and was showcased during NBC’s Feb.

Bel-Air is Peacock’s one-hour drama series that re-imagines the beloved ’90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air through a modern, dramatic take on Will’s complicated journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air.

Joining moderator Matt Grobar at Deadline’s Contenders Television at the Paramount Theatre to discuss the 10-episode drama series were series creator Morgan Cooper; co-showrunner Rasheed Newson; actor Jabari Banks, who plays Will; and actor Cassandra Freeman, who plays Aunt Viv.

Contenders TV — Deadline’s Complete Coverage

The series was not picked up in a typical fashion. Rather than an adaptation or reboot being tossed around in the offices of sunny Hollywood, Cooper made a viral trailer released on YouTube that caught the eyes of certain people, landing him a meeting with the star of the original sitcom: Will Smith.

“We’re driving down Highway 71 and this vision hit me...

Spoiler Alert: Do not read if you have not seen “Where To?,” Season 1 Episode 10 of “Bel-Air.”

“Bel-Air” Season 1 finale “Where To?” reinterprets the most famous episode of one of the most famous sitcoms of all time. Its showrunners Rasheed Newson and T.J. Brady’s take on “Papa’s Got a Brand New Excuse,” the Season 4 episode of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” where Will (Will Smith) finally meets the father who abandoned him as a toddler, who then disappears as quickly as he came.

In this version, Lou didn’t abandon Will (Jabari Banks) by choice. He instead spent 13 years in prison — which, for better or for worse, was kept a secret from Will his entire life. Geoffrey, (Jimmy Akingbola) whose version of the “Fresh Prince” character for “Bel-Air” is not a butler, but rather a house manager who acts as something like an in-home Olivia Pope, digs up a...

Ok, let me start this by saying I was completely wrong about "Bel-Air." As a (almost) day-one fan of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," I had very little faith that the '90s classic could be resurrected as an hour-long drama. But I have to give credit where it's due, because the series has far exceeded my expectations. Each week, it's gotten better and better. The constant praise on social media is proof of that. And as the season comes to a close, one thing is abundantly clear: "Bel-Air" has successfully broken the reboot curse.

"If we got this wrong, we knew we were going to hear about it and hear about it for an awfully long time."

"Bel-Air" has accomplished what most thought was impossible: reimagining a familiar story and making it entertaining to watch. Most viewers expected the series to simply recycle the same storylines we saw on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,...

The following contains spoilers from Bel-Air’s Season 1 finale. Proceed accordingly.

With Will asking so many questions about his father Lou, it was inevitable that he would show up in Bel-Air’s Season 1 finale to clear the air.

More from TVLineBel-Air Finale Sneak Peek: A Mystery Guest Drops By -- Is It Will's Father?Performer of the Week: Yuh-Jung YounBel-Air Recap: Will Asks About His Father, Uncle Phil and Geoffrey Go At It

Lou (played by Marlon Wayans) caught wind of Will’s inquiries and met with his son for the first time in a decade. It turns out that...

Spoiler Alert! Do not read unless you’ve watched the season finale of Bel-Air on Peacock.

It took a few seasons before fans met Will Smith’s dad Lou in the Fresh Prince of Bel Air (played by Ben Vareen). But Peacock’s Bel-Air — like it’s already demonstrated in its first 10 episodes — is nothing like the ’90s sitcom that starred Will Smith in the title role.

In the season one finale of the drama, Marlon Wayans shows up as Lou, the long lost father of Will (Jabari Banks). Before his unexpected homecoming, Will was led to believe by his mom Vy (April Parker Jones) and Uncle Phil (Adrian Holmes) that Lou abandoned his family; in reality, Lou was serving time in prison and never wanted his son to see him behind bars.

Here, co-showrunners and executive producers T.J. Brady and Rasheed Newson talk about the decision to introduce Will...

After raising several questions about his father in the latter half of Bel-Air‘s first season, Will may finally get some answers.

The above video teases secrets revealed in the Season 1 finale (premiering this Thursday on Peacock) as an unexpected guest drops by the Banks residence. While we don’t see who’s on the other side of the door, Phil’s aggrieved facial expression suggests an unwelcome guest… like Will’s father?

More from TVLinePerformer of the Week: Yuh-Jung YounBel-Air Recap: Will Asks About His Father, Uncle Phil and Geoffrey Go At ItGirls5eva Lands Season 2 Release Date at...

“Bel Air” is about to feature a “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” reunion — of sorts. Daphne Maxwell Reid, who played Will’s aunt on later seasons of “Fresh Prince,” and Vernee Watson-Johnson, who recurred as Will’s mom on the show, are returning to Bel Air — in guest starring roles for Episode 9 of Peacock’s new drama.

Maxwell Reid and Watson-Johnson portrayed Aunt Viv and Viola “Vy” Smith, respectively, in the original series. For their upcoming guest roles on “Bel-Air,” the two will play “Helen” and “Janice,” members of the Art Council Board of Trustee.

Peacock’s “Bel-Air” reimagines the beloved “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” sitcom — with a new lens on Will’s (Jabari Banks) complicated journey from West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air. The series, inspired by Morgan Cooper’s viral trailer, is executive produced by Will Smith — as well as director/co-writer Cooper and showrunners T.J. Brady and Rasheed Newson.