The dramatic series finale of Peacock’s Bel-Air gave fans a major surprise. The original Fresh Prince himself, Will Smith, appeared on screen for the first time in the reboot. The show’s creator has now revealed that this pivotal moment, which closed the show’s four-season run, was not guaranteed to happen until the very last minute.
In the final episode, Will Smith, played by Jabari Banks, prepares to leave California for college. As he takes in the city view one last time, a mysterious stranger offers him advice. The stranger is revealed to be Will Smith, the actor who made the character famous 35 years ago. The emotional scene brought the modern show’s journey full circle, connecting it directly to its classic sitcom roots. Showrunner Carla Banks-Waddles confirmed the team had to prepare an alternate ending because they were unsure if Smith’s schedule would allow the cameo.
How the Last-Minute Will Smith Cameo Came Together
For the creators of Bel-Air, bringing Will Smith into the show was a long-held goal. Series creator Morgan Cooper stated it was “always something that we wanted to do” and was about finding the perfect moment. That moment became the series finale. The plan was to feature Smith in the final episode from early in the season’s planning stages.
However, making it a reality was a challenge. Banks-Waddles explained that everyone involved was hopeful, but they were not sure if Smith’s busy filming schedule would allow it. The confirmation that Smith could participate came extremely late—just about two weeks before the production wrapped. This left little time to finalize the scene.
Because of this uncertainty, the writing team had to prepare for two possible outcomes. They crafted two different versions of the series finale.
“We weren’t sure if [Will’s] schedule was going to work out,” Banks-Waddles told TVLine. “Everybody was hopeful, and even he was hopeful, but we weren’t sure.”
The alternate ending, which would have been used if Smith was unavailable, was very similar but lacked the magical touch. It would have shown Will, Carlton, and Jazz at the same scenic spot, but Will would have been alone with his thoughts, without the guiding conversation from the stranger.
The Meaning Behind the Final Scene
In the closing minutes of the finale, Will is with his cousin Carlton and friend Jazz before driving to Philadelphia. He steps away to look at the Los Angeles skyline. A man in sunglasses approaches him and says, “Steppin’ into the future is kinda scary, huh?”. When the man removes his sunglasses, both Will and the audience see it’s Will Smith.
The two characters, both named Will Smith, share a conversation. The older Will offers reassurance about the fear of change and the inevitability of making mistakes. He tells the younger Will, “You’re going to mess some things up and do some dumb sh*t, but you’re human. You’ll learn. You’ll grow.”. The scene ends with the older Will sharing a simple secret: “We’re going to be all right.”
The show’s creators have intentionally left the nature of Smith’s character open for audiences to decide. He is never given a specific name, though Banks’ Will refers to him as “OG.” Is he a vision of Will’s future self, a guardian angel, or a manifestation of his inner confidence? The showrunner wants viewers to decide for themselves.
“I love for it to be open to interpretation,” Banks-Waddles said. “The cast probably has their own version of what they think it is. But this advice of talking to your future self… it’s all gonna come together.”
Thematically, the scene serves as a direct answer to Will’s central conflict from the very first season. He originally feared losing his Philadelphia identity in wealthy Bel-Air. Now, as he returns home, he worries he will lose the person he became in California. The cameo provides the reassurance that he can carry all parts of himself forward.
A Full-Circle Moment for Will Smith and Jabari Banks
The scene was not just significant for the story but also for the actors involved. For Will Smith, the appearance marks a return to the character that launched his acting career in 1990. Morgan Cooper, the director of the episode, praised the dynamic between the two stars.
“It’s a beautiful, emotional scene,” Cooper said. “I’m so proud of Jabari, because to stand and act with Will Smith… he’s the most iconic actor of our time. Jabari approached that scene with so much heart and so much fearlessness.”
This wasn’t the first attempt to get Smith on the show. Initially, there were plans for him to play Lou, Will’s father, at the end of Bel-Air‘s first season. Those plans fell through due to scheduling conflicts, and Marlon Wayans ultimately played the role.
Over its four seasons, Bel-Air featured many other cameos from the original Fresh Prince cast, including:
- Janet Hubert (Original Aunt Viv) in Season 4.
- Tatyana Ali (Original Ashley) as a teacher in Season 2.
- Joseph Marcell (Original Geoffrey) in Season 3.
- Tyra Banks (Original Jackie) in Season 4.
- Daphne Maxwell Reid (Aunt Viv #2) and Vernee Watson-Johnson (Will’s mother Vy) in Season 1.
The series finale, titled “The Next Act,” and all episodes of Bel-Air are available to stream now on Peacock.
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