Bel-Air's Jabari Banks on That Surprise Will Smith Series Finale Cameo: "An Absolute... "
Will Smith showed up in the last few moments of the Bel-Air series finale on Peacock in a touching scene.
SPOILER WARNING: This story reveals details and plot points from the Bel-Air series finale.
It was an epic ending to an innovative series that reimagined a beloved sitcom.
The final moments of Peacock's Bel-Air feature a very special guest star who's familiar to anyone who watched the sitcom that it's reimagined from, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air — and likely to anyone who's paid any attention to the entertainment industry over the past three decades.
Will Smith, the lead star of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, appeared at the end of the Bel-Air finale, which is Season 4, Episode 8 and titled "The Next Act." Smith, who played a fictionalized version of himself in the sitcom, was visible in the Bel-Air finale only to Jabari Banks' character, who is also named Will Smith.
While Bel-Air has boasted plenty of fun cameos over the years by actors who were on the 1990s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which inspired the Peacock drama series, Smith hadn't turned up — until now.
Find out what Banks said about working alongside Smith in the Bel-Air finale and every detail about the special scene.
What did Jabari Banks say about Will Smith's Bel-Air cameo?
"I truly believe we placed a beautiful bow on this series, weaving together past, present, and future in a way that feels both earned and heartfelt," Banks said in a statement. "To have had the opportunity to work with Will was an absolute honor — pure joy, and another dream checked off the bucket list.
"His cameo in Bel-Air feels like a truly poetic return, and I'm beyond excited for fans — not only of our show, Bel-Air, but of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air — to experience it and feel that full-circle moment for themselves," Banks continued.
The cameo happens as Will, his cousin Carlton Banks (Olly Sholotan), and his friend Jazz (Jordan L. Jones) are looking out onto a vista of Los Angeles before Will catches a flight east, so he can attend the University of Pennsylvania. Jazz says, "We should probably get going," and he and Carlton head back to the car, but Will asks for another second to look out on the city.
Just then, a man walks up from behind and stands next to Will, taking off his sunglasses and revealing himself to be Smith.
What did Will Smith tell the fictional Will Smith in Bel-Air?
The first thing Smith says to Banks' Will is, "Stepping into the future is kind of scary, huh?" It's a fitting question as Will is leaving his life in the ritzy Los Angeles neighborhood of Bel-Air behind, and going back to his native Philadelphia as a very different person than when he fled after getting in some trouble in Season 1.
Will shrugs it off, insisting, "I'm cool." But Smith's character tells him, "It's OK, I wont tell your boys." The pair laugh, and Will shares, "You know, I used to worry that this city would make me forget who I was and where I came from. But now that I'm going back home, I'm scared I might forget who I became."
Smith tells him, "Well, that's good. That means you've become somebody worth holding on to."
Will asks, "But what if I can't hold on to this version of me?" He's told by Smith's character, "Don't worry about having all the answers. Nobody does — not even the people who pretend like they do."
Not entirely convinced yet, Will responds, "I don't know. Seems like you got it all figured out, OG."
But Smith shakes his head, saying, "No, sir. Trust me, you're gonna mess some things up and do some dumb s--t. But, you're human. You'll learn. You'll grow."
Smith's character offers Will a few more words of advice. "Just live, and laugh, and cry. Eat a cheesesteak," Smith says of the Philly favorite. "Just not every day, 'cause cholesterol is real. Life goes by fast, man. Try to enjoy the ride."
Will thanks the mystery man for the advice. Then, Smith turns to him and says, "I'll let you in on a little secret. We're gonna be alright."
The two fist bump and then Carlton yells out, "Yo, Will, we don't want to miss our flight. Jazz is in the car about the 405 (Interstate) being a beast."
Will tells Carlton, "Sorry, I'm just soaking up some wisdom from my guy right here." But when Will goes to turn towards the mystery man, he's gone.
"What guy?" Carlton asks. "You good?" Unable to explain, Will just says, "Yeah, yeah, actually I am."
If you're wondering whether Smith's character was ever really there, or if he represents Will's future and was imagined, you'll have decide for yourself by watching the final episode of Bel-Air, now streaming on Peacock.
How can I watch Bel-Air?
If you'd like to catch up on or rewatch past episodes of Bel-Air, all four seasons are now streaming on Peacock!
