For Jabari Banks, his final day on set was an emotional one, filled with nostalgia and tears. As he wrapped up his three-year stint as Will in Peacock's reboot of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," Banks couldn't help but reflect on the journey that had brought him to this point.
"It's like graduating high school," Banks said, recalling the sense of loss and uncertainty that comes with leaving a chapter of one's life behind. "When it's time to say goodbye, it sucks."
Banks' experience playing Will has been nothing short of transformative. Under the guidance of Will Smith, he has grown not only as an actor but also as a person. The two have developed a deep understanding and respect for each other, with Smith serving as a mentor and friend off-screen.
"He's been a guiding force and light throughout this whole experience," Banks said of working with Smith. "We rarely talk about the character, but we've talked about the industry and my career. That's been the most impactful conversation that I've had with him."
As for his time on set, Banks remembers it was filled with laughter, tears, and a sense of camaraderie among the cast and crew. The show's creator, Morgan Cooper, brought a unique vision to the reboot, one that stayed true to the spirit of the original while also pushing the boundaries of what was possible.
"Peacock's 'Bel-Air' is one of the few shows that got it right in an industry dominated by remakes," Banks said. "It's a testament to the power of taking risks and staying true to oneself."
For his final season, Banks was particularly excited to work with celebrity cameos, including Snoop Dogg, who impressed him with his professionalism and dedication to his craft.
"He had a two-page monologue and didn't skip a word," Banks said. "That was dope to see his level of professionalism. It's the reason why his career has had the longevity, and that was inspiring to see."
As for Marlon Wayans, who played Will's long-lost father on screen, Banks describes him as more of an "older brother" off-camera. The two have developed a close relationship, with Wayans offering guidance and direction when needed.
Through it all, Banks has been inspired by the show's ability to connect with fans of all ages and demographics. He has been moved by the love and enthusiasm that fans have shown for the series, and he is grateful to have played a part in bringing people together through their shared love of television and culture.
"There are so many people of different ages and demographics that love it," Banks said. "It's beautiful to see that we can bring communities together with a shared love for television and culture. I'm super happy that fans love the show."
As he takes his final bow as Will, Banks knows that he has left an indelible mark on the world of television. He is proud of what he has accomplished and grateful for the experiences that have shaped him into the person he is today.
"It's been a wild ride," Banks said, smiling wistfully as he looks back on his time on "Bel-Air." "I'm ready to see what's next, but I'll always cherish the memories of my time playing Will."
"It's like graduating high school," Banks said, recalling the sense of loss and uncertainty that comes with leaving a chapter of one's life behind. "When it's time to say goodbye, it sucks."
Banks' experience playing Will has been nothing short of transformative. Under the guidance of Will Smith, he has grown not only as an actor but also as a person. The two have developed a deep understanding and respect for each other, with Smith serving as a mentor and friend off-screen.
"He's been a guiding force and light throughout this whole experience," Banks said of working with Smith. "We rarely talk about the character, but we've talked about the industry and my career. That's been the most impactful conversation that I've had with him."
As for his time on set, Banks remembers it was filled with laughter, tears, and a sense of camaraderie among the cast and crew. The show's creator, Morgan Cooper, brought a unique vision to the reboot, one that stayed true to the spirit of the original while also pushing the boundaries of what was possible.
"Peacock's 'Bel-Air' is one of the few shows that got it right in an industry dominated by remakes," Banks said. "It's a testament to the power of taking risks and staying true to oneself."
For his final season, Banks was particularly excited to work with celebrity cameos, including Snoop Dogg, who impressed him with his professionalism and dedication to his craft.
"He had a two-page monologue and didn't skip a word," Banks said. "That was dope to see his level of professionalism. It's the reason why his career has had the longevity, and that was inspiring to see."
As for Marlon Wayans, who played Will's long-lost father on screen, Banks describes him as more of an "older brother" off-camera. The two have developed a close relationship, with Wayans offering guidance and direction when needed.
Through it all, Banks has been inspired by the show's ability to connect with fans of all ages and demographics. He has been moved by the love and enthusiasm that fans have shown for the series, and he is grateful to have played a part in bringing people together through their shared love of television and culture.
"There are so many people of different ages and demographics that love it," Banks said. "It's beautiful to see that we can bring communities together with a shared love for television and culture. I'm super happy that fans love the show."
As he takes his final bow as Will, Banks knows that he has left an indelible mark on the world of television. He is proud of what he has accomplished and grateful for the experiences that have shaped him into the person he is today.
"It's been a wild ride," Banks said, smiling wistfully as he looks back on his time on "Bel-Air." "I'm ready to see what's next, but I'll always cherish the memories of my time playing Will."
can't believe that final day is here for Jabari Banks playing Will in Bel Air 
. He's right about it being like graduating high school - you gotta say goodbye to a chapter of your life and move on 
. It's amazing how much growth he's had as an actor and person, all thanks to his experience working with the one and only Will Smith 
. Their mentorship is a huge part of what makes this reboot so special 
.
. It's beautiful to see how Bel Air has brought people together through its shared love of TV and culture 
. And can we talk about Snoop Dogg's professionalism? 
He's a true legend in the entertainment industry, and it's dope to see him still killing the game after all these years 
.
. But I know he'll do great things next! 
. i gotta give props to morgan cooper for taking a chance on this reboot, it paid off big time 
. and those celebrity cameos? totally iconic 
. snoop dogg's professionalism was everything 
he played Will for 3 yrs and it's crazy how fast time flew by! 
i love how he credits Will Smith as his mentor & friend, that's so cool 
they had a deep convo about the industry & career which is awesome 
banks also gushed about Snoop Dogg's professionalism 
it's beautiful to see how Bel Air brought ppl together across ages & demographics 
i'm hyped for what's next for jabari 
Banks seems like such a down-to-earth and humble guy, too - it's great that he's grateful for the experiences he's had and can't wait to see what's next for him. This is definitely going to be a bittersweet goodbye for fans of the show... but I'm sure his legacy will live on through Will! 
and it's crazy how far he came from day one. I mean, Snoop Dogg's professionalism is goals 
, like peacock's reboot of fresh prince was a game changer, no question. i mean, will smith was already on top, but bringing in new blood with jabari banks as will and marlon wayans as his dad was pure genius. it's not just the acting that stood out, it's how the show connected with fans of all ages 
. The way the show brought together people of all ages and demographics is really special 
, and I'm grateful for all the memories of Bel-Air!
. The way he nailed that two-page monologue without skipping a word is impressive 
.
he played will for 3 yrs and now its time to move on. he's got new opportunities coming up and i'm sure he'll crush 'em 
celebrities do what they gotta do for the role and if that means reading from a script, then thats it. didnt see anything special there 
. I'm so grateful for shows like "Bel-Air" that bring people together – it's dope to see how a TV show can unite communities across ages and demographics 
