NBC

Alfonso Ribeiro explains why he will not be part of the 'Bel-Air' drama series

By Megan Armstrong | Last updated 4/21/21

The whole point of a re-imagination is leave the past in the past, right?

Alfonso Ribeiro thinks so.

The actor best known for his role as Carlton Banks on iconic '90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air discussed the upcoming drama spinoff with Justin Sylvester on E! News's Just the Sip podcast earlier this month:

"I like to call it a reimagining. We sometimes throw a lot of things into one word, one concept. A reboot would be taking the actual show and characters and bringing it back. This is a totally different show. ... It's not even based on the show. It's based on the theme song. It's a completely different thing. It's drama. It's not comedy. I have nothing to do with it so I don't really know anything more ... But I actually appreciate it even more than a reboot. Let's take a concept and turn it into a different show."

Bel-Air was first triggered by a 2019 YouTube trailer created by Morgan Cooper then reported by E! last August.

Smith, who will produce the series through his Westbrook Studios company, then officially confirmed in September that the project received a two-season order from Peacock:

The Fresh Prince originally aired on NBC for six seasons from 1990 to '96.

Ribeiro did join his past co-stars last November for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion, a 75-minute HBO Max special that brought everybody back together—except for Uncle Phil, as James Avery passed away in December 2013. Click here for some of the biggest revelations (h/t NBC News).

More must-reads: