Featured Image Credit: Sky/NBC
Topics: TV And Film
Ali Condon
There's a brand new Banks family in Bel-Air and they're ready to take in cousin Will with open arms. Well... most of them are.
The gritty new reboot of beloved 90's sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is set to air next week and we thought it was only right we prepare you for some of the shocking new changes.
Watch the trailer for Bel-Air here:
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The most surprising shake-up in the Fresh Prince remake is the character of Will's cousin Carlton.
Portrayed by Alfonso Ribeiro in the original series, Carlton was known as the only son of Philip and Vivian Banks, and a preppy aspiring Princeton student who could bust a move to Tom Jones' It's Not Unusual from time to time.
Despite being the total opposite of Will, the pair quickly the best of friends on the show - giving each other advice, executing fool-proof plans, and teasing one another (though Will probably did more of the teasing).
But in the 2022 remake, Carlton (Olly Sholotan) is far less goofy and likeable than some might remember.
When we meet him in Bel-Air, Carlton is cold, serious, and furious to see that Will (Jabari Banks) has already helped himself to some new clothes from his impressive wardrobe.
We later learn that, not only is Carlton one of the most popular students at Bel-Air academy, but he has an ex-girlfriend named Lisa (Simone Joy Jones) and is a key player on the lacrosse team - a successful social life that older Carlton could only have dreamt of.
New Carlton is determined to keep Will as an outcast, and refuses to help him settle in to his new school and home life, and is even happy to throw hands if he sees his cousin getting too comfortable.
In fact, Carlton is willing to do more for his school chum Conor (who is far too comfortable throwing racial slurs around in the locker room) than his own flesh and blood.
Other character developments include Hilary (Coco Jones), the eldest of the Banks children, transforming from the self-centred air-head we're familiar with to an outspoken influencer with a passion for cooking.
Yes, she loves fashion and adores the attention from her fans, but this Hilary is strong-willed, ambitious, and knows exactly what she wants. If that's what Hilary's like, then we can't wait to see what little Ashley Banks is about to bring to the table. We love to see it!
Head of the family, Philip Banks (Adrian Holmes) still has his issues with Will, but this time around, the well-to-do Senator hopeful has a lot more time and understanding for his nephew.
Bel-Air premieres on Sky and NowTV on Monday, 14th February.