Will Smith Can’t Even Watch Himself on ‘Fresh Prince’ at This Point: ‘It’s Terrible’
“If you watch the first four or five episodes, you can see I’m mouthing other people’s lines”
Jennifer Maas | December 21, 2017 @ 10:39 AM
Last Updated: December 21, 2017 @ 11:16 AM
NBC
You can still hold out hope for a “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” reunion, but don’t think for a second Will Smith is going to be reviewing his old performances to prep for it. While the Academy Award-nominated actor was taping a recent episode of “The Graham Norton Show,” he discussed how awkward it is to watch himself on the ’90s sitcom now.
“It was my very first role, and I was very, very focused on being successful, so I learned the whole script and everyone else’s lines,” Smith said while taping the British talk show. “If you watch the first four or five episodes, you can see I’m mouthing other people’s lines. It’s terrible and I can’t bear to watch it.”
But fans who are really hoping for a revival may adamantly disagree with Smith’s assessment of his performance. Viewers have been clamoring for a reunion for a long time now, and Smith is aware. Though he says at 49 years old, he might need to take on a different role.
“Man, I’d have to be Uncle Phil in that one now ― I’m nearly 50!”
Well, that’s not totally out of the question, seeing as earlier this year users on social media were quick to point out a picture of Smith bungee jumping looked a whole lot like Uncle Phil (played by the late James Avery) was diving head first toward the water.
The Evolution of Will Smith: From 'The Fresh Prince' to 'Bad Boys For Life' (Photos)
Long before he became an awards season darling, Will Smith was a successful rapper. From his early days in Philadelphia, TheWrap looks back at the Fresh Prince's colorful career.
Getty
Fresh Prince (1985) A 17-year-old Will Smith met Jeff Townes by chance and the two ended up forming a hip-hop duo called DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince.
Getty Images
First Grammy (1989) DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince received their first ever Grammy Award for "Parents Just Don't Understand" in 1989.
Getty Images
"The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" (1990-96) After the IRS came after Will Smith for underpaid taxes, the rapper was nearly bankrupt. Luckily for him, NBC signed Smith and built "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air" around his rap persona. The sitcom became a '90s cult classic.
NBC
"Where the Day Takes You" (1992) Smith made his feature film acting debut in "Where the Day Takes You."
Getty
"Bad Boys" (1995) Smith starred in "Bad Boys" alongside Martin Lawrence. Although the film wasn't a critics' favorite, it did well with audiences and became a box office hit.
Columbia Pictures
"Independence Day" (1996)
Smith scored his first blockbuster playing a military pilot in the summer alien-invasion hit "Independence Day."
20th Century Fox
Jada Pinkett Smith (1997-)
In 1997, Smith married actress Jada Pinkett -- whom he met when she auditioned to play his girlfriend on "Fresh Prince." (The role went to Nia Long.) They had two kids together, Jaden (born 1998) and Willow (born 2000).
Getty Images
"Men in Black" (1997) Smith owned the July 4 weekend at the box office the following year with this sci-fi/comedy megahit, which grossed a whopping $250 million domestically. He also recorded his first solo single since his days with DJ Jazzy Jeff for the "Men in Black" soundtrack.
Getty
"Wild Wild West" (1999)
Smith's next attempt to own the July 4 weekend box office was a serious misfire, a big-budget action comedy about 19-century hired guns trying to protect post-Civil War America from a diabolical inventor.
Warner Bros.
"Ali" (2002) Smith was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Muhammad Ali in "Ali," but lost to Denzel Washington in "Training Day."
Columbia Pictures
"Hitch" (2005) The hardworking actor was recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records for attending three movie premieres in a 24-hour period while promoting the rom-com "Hitch."
Getty Images
"The Pursuit of Happyness" (2006)
He earned his second Oscar nomination starring as a real-life salesman and entrepreneur who struggles with homelesseness. The film also marked the screen debut of his son Jaden.
Columbia Pictures
Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (2007) Smith gets a slab of concrete with his hand and foot imprint at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood.
Getty Images
"Hancock" (2008)
This unusual take on a superhero film was a huge hit, grossing $228 million, but has yet to spawn a sequel. Smith played a down-and-out superhero who's teamed with a PR exec (Jason Bateman) to improve his image after some ill-advised heroics cause millions in damages.
Columbia Pictures
"Men in Black 3" (2012)
Smith snapped a four-year sabbatical from the big-screen with the sequel to one of his biggest hits -- but audiences mostly yawned.
Sony
"After Earth" (2013)
Smith paired with his then 15-year-old son Jaden on this post-apocalyptic sci-fi adventure that was snubbed by critics and audiences alike.
Columbia Pictures
"Concussion" (2015)
Smith lands another Golden Globe nomination for playing real-life Dr. Bennet Omalu, who took on the NFL after discovering football-related brain trauma known as CTE.
Sony
"Suicide Squad" (2016)
Smith plays Deadshot, an expert marksman turned criminal who is recruited to join a band of super-villains recruited to work for good in the DC Comics movie. Many fans balked, but the film still grossed a career-best $325 million domestically.
Warner Bros.
"Collateral Beauty" (2016) Smith plays a successful New York advertising exec who experiences a personal tragedy involving his young daughter and retreats from life, only to have his colleagues come up with a plan to bring him back.
Warner Bros.
"Bright" (2017)
In this futuristic sci-fi cop thriller from Netflix, Will Smith plays an L.A. cop partnered with the first orc on the police force (Joel Edgerton). The big-budget streaming movie generated some of Smith's worst reviews since "Suicide Squad."
Netflix
"Aladdin" (2019)
In Disney's live-action remake of the animated film "Aladdin," Will Smith plays the all-powerful Genie, taking over for the late Robin Williams in the role. Initial images for the film made fans wonder whether the genie would even be blue...and there was even more skepticism when it was revealed that he was. But fans came out anyway, and the live-action remake grossed over $1 billion thanks to Smith's star power.
Disney
"Gemini Man" (2019)
Smith goes under the digital knife for Ang Lee's sci-fi and action thriller "Gemini Man," in which he fights a digitally de-aged version of himself looking like he did in his old Fresh Prince days.
Paramount Pictures
"Bad Boys For Life" (2020)
After years of speculation and Martin Lawrence even saying he didn't think it would ever happen, Smith and Lawrence teamed up once again for "Bad Boys For Life," which reunites the cop duo for one last ride, though director Michael Bay did not return to the sequel.
Sony Pictures
1 of 24
The Oscar-nominated actor reunites with Martin Lawrence in the sequel to the blockbuster action franchise opening this weekend
Long before he became an awards season darling, Will Smith was a successful rapper. From his early days in Philadelphia, TheWrap looks back at the Fresh Prince's colorful career.
Getty
Getty Images
