‘Bel-Air’ Spinoff ‘Hilary’ in Development — Here’s What We Know So Far
Peacock established its reputation in scripted television with a surprising hit, a dramatic reimagining of a beloved ’90s sitcom that few anticipated would resonate as it did. Four seasons later, while that show has concluded, the universe it created is far from over.
‘Bel-Air’ wrapped up its storyline with the lead cast achieving closure, including Hilary Banks, who spent much of the final season navigating grief after the sudden loss of her husband. Actress Coco Jones discussed this arc while promoting the series finale, stating to TVLine that grief “is never fully gone,” and that Hilary was learning to remain close to her loved ones while figuring out how to move forward.
Now, Peacock is reportedly crafting a new chapter centered around that character. A spinoff series titled ‘Hilary’ is in development at the streamer, with Coco Jones set to reprise her role as the beloved Banks family member. If this project advances, it would mark Peacock’s first scripted original series to branch off into its own show.
The series is created by writer Tracy Oliver, known for her work on ‘Girls Trip’ and ‘Harlem,’ who is entering the ‘Bel-Air’ universe for the first time. It’s being produced by Will Smith’s Westbrook Studios in collaboration with Universal Television, the same team behind the original series, ensuring a direct creative connection to the show that started it all.
According to the project’s logline, Hilary receives an unexpected job offer from celebrity chef Yvonne Durand and impulsively moves to New York City, eager to establish her own identity beyond her Bel-Air ties. The narrative is described as a tale of success, friendship, and love in the city, all of which come with unforeseen challenges for Hilary.
This New York shift revisits a storyline from deep within the franchise’s history. The original ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ featured Hilary moving to New York City for her own television career during its later seasons, and this new iteration seems to draw directly from that trajectory instead of following how ‘Bel-Air’ concluded, where Hilary opened a café and remained in Bel-Air.
Jones portrayed Hilary throughout all four seasons of ‘Bel-Air,’ the dramatic reboot that redefined the Banks family dynamic with significantly higher stakes than its sitcom predecessor. The show chronicled Will Smith’s journey from West Philadelphia to his aunt and uncle’s mansion in Bel-Air, quickly becoming a flagship title for Peacock after its debut in February 2022.
News of the spinoff quickly spread across social media, with fans expressing enthusiasm over Jones leading her own series after receiving acclaim for her portrayal of one of the show’s standout characters. Given that much of Hilary’s journey in the final season focused on rediscovering her identity, a spinoff centered on her embarking on a new adventure in a different city seems like a fitting progression for the character.
There’s currently no information regarding a release date or whether Peacock has officially greenlit the series beyond the development phase, but the involvement of Westbrook Studios and Universal Television indicates substantial backing for the project. For a streaming service that established its scripted identity with ‘Bel-Air,’ giving Hilary the spotlight could be a significant move in expanding that universe.
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