Westbrook Developing Fresh Prince Origin Series 215

Will Smith's leap from Philadelphia teenager to chart-topping rapper is heading back to television in a scripted origin story called 215.

The series is in development at Westbrook Studios, the company co-founded by Smith, and will track his early life in Philadelphia and his teaming with Jeff Townes, aka DJ Jazzy Jeff, in the 1980s as the duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. The title refers to the Philadelphia area code, The Hollywood Reporter reported.

215 is the first project in a partnership between Westbrook and private equity firm The Malar Group to develop a slate of films and TV series together. The slate and the series were announced on October 6, 2026, according to Deadline. The Malar Group is a Canadian company.

Terence Carter, president of television for Westbrook Studios, and Sayan Navaratnam, CEO of The Malar Group, are behind the joint slate. In development means the show is at an early stage. No writer is yet attached, so no channel or streamer and no start date have been set.

For fans, this means a different story from the one already on screen. Westbrook's previous scripted shows include Bel-Air, Cobra Kai and ABC's Women of the Movement. Bel-Air is a dramatic remake of Smith's sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. It is a serialised, one-hour take on the original comedy and stars Jabari Banks as Will. The original The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air aired from 1990 to 1996.

That wider world is still growing. Peacock is developing Hilary, a spinoff, meaning a new show built around an existing character, centred on Will's cousin Hilary and starring Coco Jones. Tyra Banks will guest-star in the final season of Bel-Air, 32 years after her role on The Fresh Prince.

No casting has been announced for 215. The story starts where the music started.