The princess of Bel-Air is back. Tatyana Ali, who played Ashley Banks in the original “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” has been cast as a recurring character for the second season of the gritty drama “Bel-Air” reboot.
Ali won’t be back as Ashley Banks, however. Instead, she’ll play Mrs. Hughes, a middle school English literature teacher, who helps Will and his friends navigate life in and out of the classroom.
Peacock released the first glimpse of Ali in the season two trailer.
The first season of the reboot introduced audiences to a more dramatic, 21st century version of the Banks. In season two, showrunner Carla Banks Waddles wants to take things to new heights.
“In season two, the show will continue to find ways to push the envelope and feel refreshing and unique while also honoring the heart of the legacy series,” she told Deadline. “Last season was very much about the introduction to the Banks family world, and this season we get to go deeper with some of the themes we touched on … What it truly means to be a family even when it’s challenging. We’ll also explore Will’s character beyond feeling like a fish-out-of-water. He’s now struggling to find a balance of maintaining his independence and his West Philly identity while also being open to new opportunities for himself in Bel-Air.”
