In a heartwarming nod to nostalgia, Will Smith made a surprise return to the universe of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, captivating audiences with a brief yet memorable cameo. The iconic actor, now 57, graced the concluding episode of the Bel-Air spin-off, engaging in a poignant exchange with his younger counterpart, portrayed by Jabari Banks.

The series offers a fresh take on a classic tale, with its storyline centering on a teenager whose life undergoes a dramatic shift when he relocates from the familiar streets of West Philadelphia to the affluent suburbs of Los Angeles to live with relatives. This modern twist on a beloved narrative adds layers of depth and contemporary relevance.

In a scene that beautifully bridges past and present, the younger Will finds himself gazing over the Los Angeles skyline, engaging in a contemplative dialogue with his older self. The seasoned Will imparts a piece of wisdom, noting, “Steppin’ into the future is kinda scary, huh?” This introspective moment captures the essence of growth and the passage of time.

The younger version of Will, with a mix of admiration and curiosity, responds, “It sounds like you’ve got it all figured out, OG.” This exchange underscores the timeless journey of self-discovery and the reassuring presence of one’s inner wisdom.

The younger Will remarks ‘It sounds like you’ve got it all figured out, OG.’ 

His older self replies: ‘Oh no, no, sir. Trust me, you’re going to mess some things up and do some dumb s***. But, you’re human. You’ll learn, you’ll grow.’

Will Smith delighted fans of The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air after returning for a brief cameo in the show that made him a household name

The actor, now 57, appeared in the final episode of the show’s Bel-Air spin-off, where he had an emotional conversation with his younger self, played by Jabari Banks

The scene went down a storm with Bel-Air fans on social media, with many admitting that it left them in tears.

Others praised it as the perfect ending to the show, describing it as an example of a ‘rare’ ‘full-circle’ moment on television.

They wrote: ‘I’m absolutely in tears… feels like my future self talking to me rn.’; 

‘I ain’t gonna lie, I damn near cried from the goodbye party all the way to the ending. I didn’t cry though.’;

‘There’s something so natural about the way Will Smith acts/talks that makes me emotional. Like he speaks into your soul… idk but this scene made me cry like wtf lol.’;

‘Will Smith showing up was the kind of full-circle moment TV rarely gets right. Bel-Air stuck the landing with this one.’; 

‘This Will Smith cameo was the perfect way to end the show.’ 

The emotional cameo marks the first time that Will Smith has appeared on the show since 1996, having portrayed the character of William “Will” Smith for six seasons.

The emotional cameo marks the first time that Will Smith has appeared on the show since 1996, having portrayed the character of William “Will” Smith for six seasons

The scene went down a storm with Bel-Air fans on social media, with many admitting that it left them in tears – others described it as a rare ‘full-circle’ moment in television

The show was later reprised by Peacock in 2022 for three seasons, which have now come to a close, and has received generally positive reviews with an IMDb rating of 6.4 out of ten. 

Opening up about Will’s return to the show, writer, showrunner, and executive producer Carla Banks Waddles told Deadline: ‘We’ve always wanted him on the show, and now’s the time, because there’s no more show after this. But we didn’t know if it would happen because of his schedule and everything.

‘We found out about two weeks before that he’s going to be able to get back to the States and do it. As you can imagine, he’s got an uber-busy schedule. 

‘We had days when we had given up hope, and others where we were like, could it be? I’m just glad that it worked out.’

Bel-Air is available to stream on Peacock.