‘Bel-Air’ Showrunner Shares Secret: Two Endings Filmed to Lure Will Smith Back
The series finale of Peacock’s “Bel-Air” dropped this week, and it brought a major surprise that had fans buzzing: a cameo from the Fresh Prince himself, Will Smith. It was the perfect bookend for the dramatic reimagining of the ’90s classic, bridging the gap between generations. But getting the megastar back to his old stomping grounds wasn’t exactly a walk in the park. In fact, it was so uncertain that showrunner Carla Banks-Waddles had to pull a Hollywood magic trick, filming two completely different endings just in case Smith couldn’t make it.
For four seasons, “Bel-Air” has taken us on a gritty, emotional ride, reimagining the sitcom tropes we grew up with into something raw and real. As the show prepared to take its final bow, the creative team knew they wanted to pay homage to the man who started it all. Smith, who serves as an executive producer, has always been the show’s biggest cheerleader, but his schedule is famously packed. Banks-Waddles revealed that while Smith was always part of the dream finale, reality threatened to get in the way. They wanted to try and get him into the finale but weren’t sure if he was going to be available or make it in time.
The “Will He or Won’t He” Dilemma
The tension behind the scenes of “Bel-Air” was almost as high as the on-screen drama. The writing team had a vision: a moment where the new Smith (played with incredible depth by Jabari Banks) meets the orginal Smith. It was meant to be a passing of the torch, a moment of reassurance for the character heading off to UPenn. But, with Smith out of the country and his calendar jammed, the Plan A ending looked increasingly unlikely. The team faced a tough choice: hope for a miracle or prepare for the worst. They chose to do both.
“We had days when we had given up hope, and others where we were like, could it be?” Banks-Waddles told Deadline. To ensure the finale could air regardless of Smith’s availability, the production crew shot a Plan B ending. This alternate version focused solely on the core trio: Will, Carlton, and the family, saying goodbye to Los Angeles on that scenic vista. It would have been a beautiful, intimate farewell to the city, reinforcing the bond between the cousins. But let’s be honest, it wouldn’t have had that electric jolt of seeing the two Wills side-by-side.
Making the Magic Happen
Just when it seemed like the clock had run out, the stars aligned. About two weeks before production wrapped, the call came in: Smith was back in the States and ready to shoot. It was a scramble to the finish line. The crew had already finished principal photography, leaving just one scene left to capture, that crucial conversation between the past and the future.
In the final cut, Smith appears almost like a vision. Is he a future version of the character? A figment of imagination? The showrunner loves that vagueness. He offers sage advice to his younger counterpart, telling Deadline, “It’s gonna be a little messy, it’s gonna be a little bumpy. Life is gonna life, but it’s gonna be okay.” It was the closure both the character and the audience needed. Seeing Smith step back into the world of “Bel-Air”, even for a brief moment, validated the journey of the last four years. It was a risky bet to plan a finale around a maybe, but in true Fresh Prince fashion, it paid off in style.
More Than Just One Cameo
While Smith stole the headlines, he wasn’t the only familiar face to grace the final season. The showrunners went all out to honor the legacy of the original series. Janet Hubert, the original Aunt Viv, returned in a poignant role as a doula helping the new Aunt Viv deliver baby Nicky. It was a meta-moment of healing and tribute that left the cast and crew emotional. Even Tyra Banks, the original Jackie, popped up, proving that “Bel-Air” knows exactly how to honor its roots while forging its own path.
As the curtain falls on Peacock’s “Bel-Air”, this final season stands as a testament to the show’s ability to balance nostalgia with fresh storytelling. Filming two endings might seem excessive to some, but it shows just how dedicated the team was to delivering the perfect goodbye. They didn’t just want to end the show; they wanted to complete the circle. And by getting Smith back for that final skyline view, they did exactly that.
