‘Bel-Air’s Jabari Banks on Which ‘Fresh Prince’ Actor He Wants in Season 4

[Editor’s note: The following contains some spoilers for Season 3 of Bel-Air.]

In Season 3 of the Peacock unique collection Bel-Air, Will (Jabari Banks) and Carlton (Olly Sholotan) accomplice up as they discover ways to construct a enterprise, however attaining success may be irritating while you’re already coping with household drama. Recent out of rehab, Carlton is working to rebuild belief whereas leaving his dependancy behind. On the identical time, Will is making an attempt to fill within the items of a life that’s at all times been lacking the daddy he needs he bought to know. And whereas nothing is ideal, and so they’re each sure to make errors, new views may also assist them proceed to develop, as is the case with the whole Banks household.

Collider not too long ago bought the chance to speak with Banks about Bel-Air Season 3, what he most loved about what he bought to discover this season, what it’s been prefer to have Recent Prince solid members visitor on the present, who he’d prefer to see make a cameo subsequent, his favourite second of the third season, what surprises him about the place Will is at now, the evolving dynamic between Will and Carlton, and what he’d prefer to discover in a potential Season 4.

Jabari Banks Loved Exploring a New Facet of His ‘Bel-Air’ Character for Season 3

Collider: It’s a present that at all times has quite a lot of drama, or it wouldn’t be good TV. What did you most take pleasure in concerning the journey of Season 3? As an actor, what did you most take pleasure in attending to play and discover? But additionally, because the character, how is he feeling about the place his life is at, for the time being?

JABARI BANKS: That’s an excellent query. For me, Jabari, what was enjoyable to play was a brand new aspect of Will outdoors of basketball. He’s moving into his entrepreneurship bag. That’s a unique aspect of Will that we haven’t seen but, however he has that hustle and that drive that he can succeed anyplace, in order that was enjoyable. Will is at all times on this fish-out-of-water state of affairs, and now he’s working on the nation membership, the place there’s lots of people that don’t seem like him there. And but, he’s nonetheless making pals and he’s nonetheless thriving in these conditions the place folks wouldn’t suppose he would. That’s a testomony to his resilience and his tenacity and the general je ne sais quoi of his being that folks take pleasure in seeing. That was positively a enjoyable dynamic to play. This season is unquestionably sizzling, for positive. We bought to journey to totally different locations. We had been taking pictures in numerous areas and it was very lovely.

You’ve had Tatyana Ali on the collection. Now, you’ve had Joseph Marcell this season. What was he prefer to have on set? Was there something that you just simply needed to ask him, or something that he shared that was simply actually significant?

BANKS: Initially, he’s British, which is at all times a pleasure. Listening to that accent is simply lovely to me. The power that he brings to what he does is so lovely. It felt like I used to be younger Will within the nineties, speaking to Geoffrey after I was chatting with him. I’m unhappy that I by no means bought to do an precise scene with him, however it was such a pleasure watching him work. He positively brings a nostalgic really feel and I feel persons are gonna be very, very excited and shocked to see how he performs a component on this season.

Who would you prefer to see make an look subsequent?

BANKS: We’re taking place the listing. I feel we’ve gotta hit Alfonso [Ribeiro] subsequent. Come on, Season 4, let’s do it.

Because the seasons have gone on, what would you say most surprises you about the place Will is now?

BANKS: I’ve at all times identified that Will is the kind of one that’s gonna thrive wherever he’s at. He’s gonna have his ups and downs, however he’s the kind of person who’s simply resilient in that manner. And so, perhaps what surprises me is his relationship along with his cousin, Carlton. The ups and downs, and the ebbs and flows of that, are nonetheless persevering with to shock me. We’re pals someday, after which we’re enemies the following. That also surprises me, each time I learn a brand new script. I’ll be like, “I assumed we simply appreciated one another. What occurred?”

I really actually cherished the second this season the place they’re advised that they shouldn’t disguise their scars. Is that one thing you’re feeling is less complicated mentioned than accomplished? Can you embrace your individual scars with out letting them outline who you’re?

BANKS: Yeah, I feel so. I’m a reasonably assured particular person. Every little thing that I’ve been via in my life positively formed me into the person who I’m right this moment, so I’m not scared to speak about my wrongs, or the issues which have harm me, or the issues that I’ve accomplished to harm different folks. I feel that’s essential to have the ability to acknowledge and to vocalize.

Once we talked about Will and Carlton’s relationship in Season 2, you particularly identified the camaraderie they’d discovered, however you additionally mentioned that Will has to like Carlton as a result of they’re household. Actually, Will doesn’t have to like Carlton as a result of not all household will get alongside. What do you suppose Will sees in Carlton, that he didn’t see when he first got here to Bel-Air?

BANKS: His humanity. Will didn’t perceive him at first as a result of Will comes from a completely totally different background and a completely totally different way of life. Black people who seem like him all match into this group and its power. Carlton’s power was positively off to Will at first. He was like, “Who is that this man, and why is he letting all these white folks say the N phrase?” He was similar to, “I don’t get you.” He understands him extra now.

In Season 3 of ‘Bel-Air,’ Will is Making the Effort To Type a Relationship With His Father

Proper now, Will appears to wish to simply attempt to battle towards all the things in him that he feels is like his father as a result of he doesn’t wish to be something like him. Is that one thing Will must get a greater deal with on?

BANKS: Yeah. He’s younger and issues like that take time. I’m nonetheless personally going via issues like that, as effectively, while you see the similarities between some issues that you just don’t like about your mother and father. I’m the identical manner. For Will, not understanding his father and discovering out that they’re extra related than he realizes, that’s a painful factor for him. The conventional factor to do is run, so he rejects that aspect of himself. This season, you’ll see him develop and settle for that aspect of himself extra. He’ll discover the humanity in his household and in his father, and begin seeing his mother and father as folks and never mother and father.

There have been some standout emotional moments within the first two seasons of the present. What was the most important standout second for you in Season 3?

BANKS: It’s in episode six. There’s a rekindling between Will and his household that I feel was an attractive emotional second for all three of us.

Will and Lisa appear tight, however Jackie is again within the image. What are you able to say about that drama this season?

BANKS: It’s lots. There’s lots happening. I gained’t give an excessive amount of away from that. It’s gonna be lovely although. It’s gonna be good.

How a lot are you aware about every season, going into it? Are you given glimpses into issues additional down the road, or do you solely discover out as you get every script?

BANKS: We get an episode at a time, however we nonetheless do know little glimpses of the place we’re gonna go. That additionally in the end finally ends up altering lots. That’s the character of TV, but additionally the character of this present and the way we work. The writers are at all times superb. Shout-out to (showrunner) Carla Banks-Waddles and the remainder of the writing crew. They’re in a position to take the issues that we give them, when we have now conversations with them and provides them little gems, and so they’ll be like, “Okay, yeah, we like that. We’ll throw that on this episode.” Possibly we’ll see it an episode down the road or 5 episodes down the road, however they attempt to match it in, which is sweet.

What Would Jabari Banks Like To See in a Potential ‘Bel-Air’ Season 4?

Once we spoke for Season 2 and I requested you what you wished to discover with Will in Season 3, you advised me you wished to see who he’s outdoors of basketball and we’re getting that now. So, what would you prefer to see with him in Season 4?

BANKS: I wanna see Unhealthy Boy Will with a leather-based jacket. That might be subsequent stage for Season 4.

Bel-Air is accessible to stream on Peacock. Take a look at the Season 3 trailer:

Watch on Peacock