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‘Bel-Air’ enlists a ‘Fresh Prince’ alum for Season 3. All about the new season

Joyann Jeffrey and Candice Williams
Updated
5 min read
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"Bel-Air" is back for a third season and from the looks of it, there's going to be plenty of drama unfolding.

On Friday, July 20, Peacock released the Season Three trailer for "Bel-Air," which features a guest appearance by “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” alum Joseph Marcell, who played Banks family’s butler Geoffrey on the '90s hit sitcom.

While his role in the series has yet to be officially announced, The Wrap's interview with “Bel-Air” showrunner Carla Banks-Waddles describes him as a “mysterious member of the Banks’ family’s past.”

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Marcell's appearance in the promo seems to allude that he may be the bearer of bad news for Will (Jabari Banks).

"There's always going to be a price — that's on you," Marcell's character says to Will in the clip.

Greg Gayne (Joseph Marcell / PEACOCK)
"Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" alum Joseph Marcell guest stars on Season 3 of "Bel-Air."

In the two-minute trailer, which shows Will and Carlton (Olly Sholotan) getting a summer job at a local country club after Phil's (Adrian Holmes) prompting, Will's summer seems to get a bit better (at least for a bit) after he meets a special someone, who he's seen kissing.

"Summer is the season of change and it's time to level up," the mystery woman says in the trailer.

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The action-packed first look at the new season also includes plenty of challenging moments for Will, including a reunion with his father, Lou (Marlon Wayans), who has a problem with the way he's living his life.

"I left behind basketball. That was my way out the hood. That was the only good thing in my life and I see my son making the same damn mistakes as me and there's nothing I could do about it," Lou says to Will.

Will's not the only one that appears to be having a tumultuous summer. In the trailer, Carlton appears to still be struggling with his sobriety after getting out of rehab. Though he's warned not to get into a relationship during his early weeks of sobriety, Carlton ignores the advice and soon finds himself in the hospital.

"I'm not just some druggy rich kid who ruined his life," he tells someone.

As we approach the Season Three of "Bel-Air" next month, read on to learn what we know about its action-packed return.

What is 'Bel-Air' Season Three about?

According to a press release, "Bel-Air" will explore a myriad of topics in Season Three, such as gentrification in South LA.

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The show will also pose questions like, "how do you prove yourself in a world that views you in limited ways? How do you reach beyond your comfort zone to create new opportunities for yourself?" and "How does a family rebuild broken trust?"

In order to answer these questions, "Bel-Air" showrunner, writer and executive producer Carla Banks-Waddles says the show's writing team "dug deep into their own lives to craft stories that will resonate with our audience."

"I love how everyone can see a little of themselves in the Banks family. No matter how fantastic and aspirational their lives are, we strive to tell stories that stay rooted in the love and compassion required to keep a family strong," she added.

"Bel-Air" executive producer and director Morgan Cooper agreed, and added that this season will definitely be one to watch.

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"Everything has a little more kick to it this season; the colors are more vibrant, the sound is elevated, the cinematography is more immersive. The vibe really sets the tone for Will’s first 'Bel-Airsummer: Three months to shine, explore and make moves under the LA sun,” he said. “

"In season 3, Will’s ready to level up his way, even if it means going against the grain of what’s expected," Cooper continued. "His potential is limitless, but he still has a lot to learn. As Will expands his horizons, we see the Banks family navigating new, complex relationship dynamics. It’s definitely a season of change for everyone, and we can’t wait to share this next chapter of 'Bel-Air.'"

Which actors will be starring in 'Bel-Air' Season Three?

The main cast — Jabari Banks (Will), Adrian Holmes (Phillip Banks), Cassandra Freeman (Vivian Banks), Olly Sholotan (Carlton Banks), Coco Jones (Hilary Banks), Akira Akbar (Ashley Banks), Jimmy Akingbola (Geoffrey), Jordan L. Jones (Jazz) and Simone Joy Jones (Lisa) — will be returning for Season Three.

Also, based on the trailer and first look photos, Joseph Marcell and Karrueche Tran will be making guest star appearances in the new season.

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Marcell isn't the only original "Fresh Prince" cast member who has made a guest appearance on the show. In Season Two, Tatyana Ali, who played Ashley Banks in the original series, came back to play Mrs. Hughes.

In an interview with The Wrap, Banks-Waddles said it was hard to get Marcell on the show due to his schedule and location.

“We had a couple of ideas, but we weren’t sure on availability and storyline, and he’s the one that made sense. It was even tough for him because he doesn’t live here; he lives in London,” she said. “He’s very much a working actor, does plays, was in the middle of a play, so just getting getting him here to L.A. for the availability was a feat. We weren’t even sure that was going to work out. So we had a couple of ideas for ways to get some O.G. cast in, and he was at the top of that list.”

When is 'Bel-Air' Season Three coming out?

The third season is set to air on Peacock on Thursday, August 15.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com

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