Cooper reflects on the viral YouTube video that started it all and the long-awaited cameo that cemented the show’s legacy.

Bel-Air creator Morgan Cooper breaks down that emotional series finale and the cameo ‘7 years in the making’

Cooper reflects on the viral YouTube video that started it all and the long-awaited cameo that cemented the show's legacy.

By Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2025. Her work has previously appeared on *Entertainment Tonight* and Popsugar.

EW's editorial guidelines

December 8, 2025 3:00 p.m. ET

Leave a Comment

Jabari Banks as Will in 'Bel-Air'. Credit:

**Warning: This article contains spoilers about the final three episodes of *Bel-Air, *including* *"The Next Act," the series finale.**

The prince of Bel-Air has left the building.

*Bel-Air* dropped its final three episodes on Monday, bringing an end to Peacock's dramatic reimagining of '90s sitcom fave *The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air*. What was born from a viral YouTube video by Kansas City filmmaker Morgan Cooper that reframed the jovial antics of Will Smith's beloved character of the same name into a more gritty, realistic vision, became a fresh take on the iconic story of a Philly kid sent to California to live with his wealthy relatives.

Over four seasons, the cast of *Bel-Air* — including Jabari Banks (Will Smith), Olly Sholotan (Carlton Banks), Adrian Holmes (Philip Banks), Akira Akbar (Ashley Banks), Cassandra Freeman (Vivian Banks), Coco Jones (Hilary Banks), and Jimmy Akingbola (Geoffrey) — made the well-known characters of a cultural touchstone their own for a new generation of viewers.

Jabari Banks as Will on 'Bel-Air'.

And over the course of its run, *Bel-Air* made sure to pay homage to the original series with guest appearances from the OG stars, including Janet Hubert, who originated the role of Will's Aunt Viv on the original sitcom; Tatyana Ali, the precocious Ashley Banks; Joseph Marcell, the OG Geoffrey; Vernee Watson-Johnson (Will's mom, Viola "Vy" Smith); Daphne Maxwell Reid (the second Aunt Viv, following Janet Hubert's exit after season 3); and Tyra Banks, who originally played Will's ex-girlfriend on *Fresh Prince.*

In its final bow for season 4, the series draws from both its original inspiration and the lessons learned throughout its modern iteration to reminds its audience: "Our crown is waiting for us, just as soon as we find the courage to wear it."

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

While Will and Lisa (Simone Joy Jones) decide to end their relationship as they both move forward with their college plans, Carlton and Amira (Alycia Pascual-Peña) solidify their relationship — even after acknowledging they definitely aren't ready to take a trip down the aisle again anytime soon. The globe-trotting Hilary finds her purpose in serving people the healing foods she learned from natives of Costa Rica right in her own neighborhood by opening her own cafe. And, of course, she just so happens to open her place, Honeybee's, right across from Jazz (Jordan L. Jones) and his vinyl record store.

Geoffrey decides to start over with his family in Jamaica and Ashley finds new purpose in becoming a big sister to the family's newest addition, Nicky. The sense of responsibility helps her find her voice, and that leads to her inspiring her parents to finally leave their home in Bel-Air for somewhere that brings them closer to their roots. And as Jazz chauffeurs Will and Carlton toward their new playgrounds, a stop brings the past and present together in a super-meta meeting of the Wills.

That's a lot of break down for an hour-long episode, so we reached out to the man behind the moment, Morgan Cooper himself. He reflected on the near 10-year journey that brought a new lens to a beloved story and led to the iconic onscreen moment between the two Princes of Bel-Air.

'Bel-Air' renewed for fourth and final season

Janet Hubert, 'Fresh Prince' alum and OG Aunt Viv, to guest-star in 'Bel-Air' season 4

****: It felt like the theme of people being your home rather than a place being your home was present throughout the series, but particularly in these final episodes. Why was that so important for you to impart to the viewers?****

**MORGAN COOPER: **With tech and social media, I just think people feel more disconnected than ever. And it's ironic because these apps and different platforms claim that they're there to connect people, but it really leads to more disconnection. It just feels like everybody's in the hustle and bustle of likes and being seen by strangers on screens, and it's just like, no, home is about family. It's about the time spent with family, that is our only luxury in life. That was always at the heart of this show, so I'm glad that people felt that theme.

**This opportunity came from a viral YouTube video that spanned into an entire series. How did it feel capping off such an adventure with this finale?**

Oh man, such a blessing. And it's definitely... cathartic, is the word I would say. This idea has been living in my head since late 2017, so, you know, it's almost a 10-year journey. And to be on set calling action and cut for the last time, it was cathartic but it was also the feeling of "wow." Like, I'm so proud of this creation and I'm so proud of this cast. Gratitude is another word that comes to mind, of just feeling so much gratitude for our fans, for this incredible cast, for this incredible crew. This was a big vision. It was very ambitious and very bold the way it came into existence. And everybody really rallied around this idea and believed in it.

**These final three episodes really made it all come full circle when it comes to the legacy of *Fresh Prince* and how *Bel-Air* taps into that legacy with moments like Janet Hubbert, our old Aunt Viv delivering new Aunt Viv's baby girl. What was it like to include those little nods for fans who have been with you throughout the entire journey?**

Those nods are letting our audience know that we love them. This show is made with love, it was created with love, it's built around family, and our fans are our family. So when you see those moments, when you see those callbacks, they always come from an authentic creative place. Within that authentic creative place is wanting to surprise our audience and wanting to let them know that we see them and we love them and we appreciate them.**

Jabari Banks, Coco Jones, Olly Sholotan, and Akira Akbar on 'Bel-Air'.

**How was it to work with these icons from the original series who came on and put their magic touch throughout the series?**

Oh, it was incredible. Like the original cast all just showed up with so much excitement and enthusiasm. And, you know, working with Janet that was a dream come true. And that was something that I envisioned for years. She's such a brilliant actress, and she brings so much to her work and she's so thoughtful. And just the conversations that we had, she's just an incredible, inspiring human, and inspiring actor to be around.

And then, of course, working with Will was something that I've wanted to do for years now. To have that opportunity to direct him to close out the show... Yeah, that was an incredible experience. They all just showed up, ready to go, ready to bring their best work to the screen, and they did that.

**Speaking of that amazing finale moment when Will meets Will, the moment fans have been waiting for since the show began, what was it like filming that? **

It was an unforgettable day on set. I remember walking on the set that day and I was there pretty early, just sitting in the green room and thanking God to be honest with you. Just thanking God allowing me to be a vessel and bringing this series to life, bringing this moment to life. It was really just prepping and making sure that the scene and the moment is saying everything that we want it to say.

Everybody showed up so ready and dialed in when we stepped on set. To see Jabari and Will together just felt like a full circle moment. It was seven years in the making for that moment to happen. And it took me back to 2019 when I first met Will Smith, and we were down in Miami developing the show. To be standing there behind [the] monitor, calling action for my hero... it was just such a blessing and I'm so proud of the quality of work that they delivered.**

***Bel-Air* really introduced audiences to a whole crop of actors and made them household names for a new generation of viewers. What was it like working with the cast and crew, and what are you looking forward to seeing from them in the future?**

That was always something I was really excited about, introducing the world to incredible new talent. And I feel like there's so many incredible actors who don't get the opportunity to have a platform to showcase their talent like *Bel Air*. The goal of it was to be a place to introduce the world to the future of this business and to incredible actors. So yeah, it's just an amazing feeling and I'm so proud of them.

Jimmy Akingbola, Jabari Banks, Cassandra Freeman, Olly Sholotan, and Coco Jones on 'Bel-Air'.

And it takes me back to the pilot, you know, working with them and just seeing the growth. They were already so talented and this show is a platform for them to grow, evolve their talents, and get respect. And, in a way, they grew up on this show and I just couldn't be more proud of them. They're just incredible people. I remember when I was working with Vickie Thomas [main casting director], it was important for us to not just cast incredible actors, but really incredible people because this is a family show. In order to tell the story of a family, you have to build a family. And so that was the lens in which we casted and I'm proud to say that they were all of that and more.

**What was one of your favorite scenes from the finale, not just to shoot but to see come to life on screen?**

The Will and Lisa beach scene. That was just such a beautiful, honest scene and such incredible performances. We didn't have a lot of time to shoot that scene and Jabari and Simone really brought it and poured so much emotion into that scene. And so that scene is absolutely a standout.

**It was beautifully shot and also beautifully acted, but it did make me wonder, why did you do it to us?!**

*[Laughs] *I think Will and Lisa are gonna find themselves coming back together... I think they're gonna find their way back to each other at some point. I really do.

**Okay. Thank you for saying that 'cause I was in tears. Looking back at everything, what are you taking with you when you move forward to your next projects?**

I would say the countless memories, the laughs, the lessons... just all of these different things. And there's much to be done. I have more energy creatively than I ever have right now. I love it. And I'm so proud of the work that's been done thus far. I'm so proud of this cast, crew, and all of these beautiful memories I'll cherish forever. I really will.

Jordan L. Jones, Jabari Banks, and Olly Sholotan on 'Bel-Air'.

Anne Marie Fox/Peacock

And I think, more than anything, I'm taking gratitude into everything moving forward because I recognize the impact of this show, and that's really what it's all about to me. It's so much more than just getting something made. It's making something that has an impact, it's making something that gets people through their week, and it's making something that brings families together. And so all of those things, I'm taking into my future work. It's just the beginning.

*This interview has been edited for length and clarity.***

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Drama”