Jabari Banks reveals that one of the most surprising moments in Season 3 of “Bel-Air” is discovering that Lou, played by Marlon Wayans and Will Smith’s estranged father, had been living in Los Angeles without informing Will.
“What really shocked me was that Lou was there the whole time,” Banks shared with TheWrap.
The revelation occurs in the first episode titled “Baby, I’m back.” During this episode, Will accidentally encounters Lou while out with his cousin Carlton for a meal. Later, he finds Lou working at a barbershop, which leads to a confrontation about Lou’s silence regarding his presence in town. Their relationship has been strained due to Lou’s long absence from Will’s life.
“He has a full job and is actually set up with a life there — got it. That was definitely interesting to read in the script. I was like, ‘Okay?’ That’s dope though,” Banks remarked.
Another surprising development for fans is Will’s decision to officially pursue a relationship with Lisa Wilkes, portrayed by Simone Joy Jones. However, Banks was not overly shocked by this twist, understanding Will’s unpredictable dating life.
“That was definitely shocking,” Banks admitted. “I didn’t shock me too much though … You never know with Will.”
In this season of “Bel-Air,” set during the summer, Banks mentioned that Will is branching out into new activities beyond basketball.
“Will has matured a lot, and I think he’s ready to seize the opportunities that Bel-Air offers him and embrace them, particularly as he steps away from basketball for the summer and delves into entrepreneurship. This marks a moment we’ve never seen with Will, whether in the original series or this new version. We’re exploring new territory, which is exciting.”
Season 3 of “Bel-Air” is set to premiere on Thursday, August 15, featuring the release of three episodes upon launch, exclusively on Peacock. Subsequent episodes will roll out weekly, with three episodes available on August 22 and two episodes each on August 29 and September 5.