Since a potential Bel-Air season 4.

Though he is an executive producer of Peacock's Bel-Air, Will Smith has not made an appearance. This is surprising considering he said to Entertainment Weekly that he wanted to portray Philip "Uncle Phil" Banks should Fresh Prince ever be remade. In the end, Adrian Holmes was cast as Phil, which was ultimately the better decision for the show, compared to the prospect of Smith taking on the role.

Will Smith Playing Uncle Phil In Bel-Air Would Not Have Worked

Bel-Air Should Stand Out Without Will Smith Taking the Spotlight

Having Smith play Uncle Phil in Bel-Air would seem like a perfect way to reuse his talents in the franchise, especially since the sitcom first revealed Smith's dramatic acting skills in a heartfelt scene with Phil in Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. However, Smith playing one of the remake's main characters would remind viewers of the original sitcom too much. His appearance as Phil would've distracted audiences from digesting the new series by invoking comparisons between it and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Having Fresh Prince's lead star show up as a side character in every episode would cause Bel-Air to cling too heavily to the source material, making it difficult for the remake to appeal to audiences as an individual series.

Despite spawning from a popular sitcom, Bel-Air benefits from standing as its own show with its own identity (best encapsulated by its more dramatic story). Having Fresh Prince's lead star, now an A-list actor, show up as a side character in every episode would cause Bel-Air to cling too heavily to the source material and Smith's stardom to succeed. This would also make it difficult for the remake to appeal to audiences and for the latter to recognize and appreciate its merits as an individual series.

Fortunately, the remake and its cast have been able to stand tall on their own without Smith as a ing cast member, as it has run for three seasons with rave reviews. Since many streaming shows these days sadly get canceled after only two seasons, the fact that Bel-Air has lasted this long shows that it has won the confidence of both the studio and the audience. It also exemplifies how modern remakes can succeed in distinguishing itself from the original story without relying so much on nostalgia.

Why Will Smith Still Hasn’t Appeared In Bel-Air After 3 Seasons

The Writers Found It Difficult To Include Will Smith As A Character

Since Smith has been heavily involved in the production Bel-Air as an executive producer, it's clear that there would be little to no trouble having him appear in the show. Also, it's not like the show's writers haven't thought of ways to introduce Smith to the series. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, showrunner Carla Banks Waddles reveals she considered having Smith portray Will's father, Lou, in the show's first season (the role ultimately went to actor Marlon Wayans):

"...it just felt a little too meta. Will being Will's dad. So, I'd love, in a world of a season four, to find a role for him. I think the fans would love it. We would love it. The cast would love it. So, who knows?"

Though there has been some hesitance towards having Smith appear on the show, Bel-Air shows they are not too afraid to bring back actors from the original series. For its latest season, the remake brought back actor Joseph Marcell, who played Geoffrey in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, to portray the gangster Roman in the third season. So for now, whether Smith appears on Bel-Air or not comes down to the writers finding the right character for him to play.

Which Role Should Will Smith Play In Bel-Air?

Will Smith Needs A Role That Would Best Fit The Show

Should Smith finally get to star in Bel-Air, it would be impossible for his character to be either Uncle Phil or Lou. The best option for Smith would be having him cameo as an adult version of Jabari Banks's protagonist on the show at some point, preferably in the series finale. Having Smith reprise his iconic character as a grown-up at the end of Bel-Air would be a satisfying cameo to wrap up the series that would be just meta enough to bring the franchise full circle.

Smith playing his adult self would also be the perfect symbol of how The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air matured alongside him over the years. Just as Smith went from playing a mischievous teenager to becoming one of Hollywood's most popular dramatic actors, so too did The Fresh Prince transform from a lighthearted comedy to the more serious drama Bel-Air.

Though Will Smith would have succeeded in portraying a character like Uncle Phil in this remake, it would've been at the cost of the show standing out as a distinctive drama. Bel-Air's three-season run has proved it doesn't need Smith to win over audiences. If Peacock does renew Bel-Air for a fourth season, fans would still have to wait and see if Will Smith appears in the franchise that made him a household name.