Peacock is developing a new spin-off series titled “Hilary” featuring actress Coco Jones as the character Hilary Banks [1, 2, 3].
The move represents a significant expansion of the Bel-Air franchise, as it will be the first spin-off in the history of the Fresh Prince property [3, 4].
Jones will reprise her role from the Bel-Air reboot, which ran for four seasons on the Peacock streaming platform before this announcement [1]. The new series will shift the setting from California to New York, following Hilary Banks as she navigates a new environment [2, 3].
Peacock has not released a premiere date for the production, but the development was confirmed this week [2, 4]. Jones, who is 28 years old, has become a central figure in the reboot's success [2].
The decision to center a series on Hilary Banks allows the network to explore different urban dynamics, and character growth outside the family home. By moving the action to the East Coast, the writers can introduce new conflicts while maintaining the core identity of the character established in the original reboot [2, 3].
This expansion follows the trajectory of the Bel-Air reboot, which reimagined the 1990s sitcom as a dramatic series. The transition to a spin-off indicates the streaming service's confidence in the brand's ability to sustain multiple interconnected stories [3, 4].
“The first spin-off in Fresh Prince history.”
The creation of 'Hilary' signals Peacock's strategy to transition the Bel-Air reboot from a single hit show into a broader cinematic universe. By leveraging the popularity of Coco Jones and the established lore of the Fresh Prince IP, the network is attempting to build long-term viewer loyalty through character-driven expansions rather than relying solely on the primary series.
