A new spinoff of Peacock’s hit drama Bel-Air is officially in development, with Coco Jones set to reprise her role as Hilary Banks in the potential series.
Titled Hilary, the project is being developed by Bel-Air producers Westbrook Studios and Universal Television, with Tracy Oliver attached to write and executive produce. Jones will also executive produce alongside Will Smith and other members of the production team.
According to Deadline, the story will follow Hilary as she takes an unexpected job opportunity from celebrity chef Yvonne Durand. Seeking to establish herself independently, Hilary moves to New York and attempts to build a life and career without relying on her family’s influence.
Her new beginning, however, will not be easy. In New York, Hilary will face challenges involving her career, friendships, and romantic life while dealing with the consequences of leaving her familiar surroundings behind.
Jones portrayed Hilary Banks throughout all four seasons of Bel-Air, making the proposed spinoff a direct continuation of the character’s story. The premise also takes an interesting turn from the events of the show’s fourth and final season, which ended with Hilary returning to Los Angeles from Costa Rica to open her own café.
The move to New York also creates an intriguing connection to the original The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. In that classic sitcom, Hilary similarly relocated to New York, giving the new series a parallel to the character’s original storyline.
Bel-Air premiered on Peacock in February 2022 and ran for four seasons before concluding in December. The dramatic reimagining was based on Morgan Cooper’s viral 2019 fan film, which transformed the premise of the beloved 1990s sitcom starring Will Smith into a contemporary drama.
If ordered to series, Hilary would make history as Peacock’s first scripted original series to receive a direct spinoff.
Beyond Bel-Air, Jones has appeared in projects including Vampires vs. the Bronx and the psychological thriller Strung. She is also set to star in the upcoming romantic comedy That’s Her.
For now, Hilary remains in development, and Peacock has yet to officially order the series or announce a release date.
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