Peacock's 'Bel-Air': 5 things you didn't know about Adrian Holmes

Holmes will be seen as Phillip Banks in the retelling of 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' that propelled Will Smith to stardom
UPDATED FEB 13, 2022
Jimmy Akingbola and Adrian Holmes (R) in a still from 'Bel-Air' (Peacock)
Jimmy Akingbola and Adrian Holmes (R) in a still from 'Bel-Air' (Peacock)

Superbowl Sunday just got better! Peacock has dropped a brand new series and boy are we excited about this one. Titled 'Bel-Air,' the show is a retelling of the legendary NBC sitcom 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.' The show's official synopsis reads, "Set in modern-day America, Bel-Air is a serialized one-hour dramatic analog of the '90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air that leans into the original premise: Will’s complicated journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air. With a reimagined vision, Bel-Air will dive deeper into the inherent conflicts, emotions, and biases that were impossible to fully explore in a 30-minute sitcom format, while still delivering swagger and nods to the original show."

Developed by Morgan Cooper and executive produced by Will Smith, 'Bel-Air' is based on a fan film made by Cooper that ended up catching Smith's attention. Cooper was a massive fan of the iconic 90s sitcom that propelled Smith to stardom. It was an instant hit and ran for 6 years on NBC. For those interested in watching the original series, 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' is available for streaming on Netflix and HBO Max. 

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Adrian Holmes as Phillip Banks

Adrian Holmes is a Welsh-Canadian actor and will be seen as Phillip Banks in 'Bel-Air.' Holmes has some big shoes to fill, pun intended, as he will be playing the role that made the late James Avery a household name. Adrian Holmes is of Barbadian descent and has been acting since the late 80s. He is best known for appearing as Nick Barron in the Canadian police procedural drama '19-2.' Holmes has also acted in 'Smallville,' 'True Justice,' and 'Arrow.' 



 

Cassandra Freeman as Vivian Banks

Actress Cassandra Freeman is based in Brooklyn and will be seen as Vivian Banks in 'Bel-Air'. She graduated from NYU'S Tisch School with a master's degree in Fine Arts. Freeman appeared on the big screen for the first time in 2006 as Sylvia in Spike Lee's 'Inside Man.' The 43-year-old actor has also appeared in Donald Glover Jr's 'Atlanta' and in Marvel's 'Luke Cage.' Freeman has worked as a lecturer at times, speaking at the New York Film Academy, Vassar, and at Rutgers.



 

Other cast members

Other actors who are a part of 'Bel-Air' are Olly Sholotan, Coco Jones, Akira Akbar, Jimmy Akingbola, Jordan L Jones, and Simone Joy Jones. 

The first three episodes of 'Bel-Air' are available for streaming on Peacock. The show will be available exclusively on the streaming platform's services in the United States, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marian Islands, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.

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