EXCLUSIVE ‘Bel-Air’ Season 2: Showrunner Carla Banks-Waddles & Director Morgan Cooper On Crafting Characters and Powerful Themes That Resonate

Get ready for exclusive behind the scenes tea of the highly anticipated Season 2 of Peacock's hit series, “Bel-Air.” In a new interview, TheYBF sits down with showrunner Carla Banks-Waddles and director Morgan Cooper to discuss the creative process behind the upcoming season. From crafting characters with depth to exploring powerful themes that resonate with audiences, learn how the dynamic duo brings the world of Bel-Air to life like never before inside… ”Bel-Air,” the modern-day reimagining of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” has become one of the most talked-about shows of the year. With its gripping storyline, relatable characters, and bold themes, audiences were eagerly awaiting the release of Season 2. And now, it’s finally here. YBF correspondent Jada Watts was able to sit down with two of the masterminds behind Bel-Air: showrunner/co-executive producer Carla Banks-Waddles and director Morgan Cooper. The YBF creatives gave us to give us a glimpse into the magic behind crafting character journeys that resonate with viewers. At the heart of the hit series is the story of a black family navigating the hardships and victories of life in the affluent neighborhood of Bel Air. As Carla explains, finding the balance between each character's individual journey and their relationships with one another is key to the show's success. ”The writer's room spends a lot of time at the beginning of the season just talking about what is the journey like, where do we leave them in season one, and where do we want to start them in season two," she explained. “We've got 10 episodes to send them on a journey, 10 episodes to tell a movie about the Banks family. And so we do that for every character. Like [Aunt] Viv, what does she want, what's she gonna do, what's going to be the interesting stories for her, and for Will and for Carlton, and not just them individually on their journeys but even interweaving in the relationships.” The "Bel-Air" showrunner goes on to describe the importance of not only exploring each character's passions and struggles but also weaving them together in a way that feels organic and surprising for viewers. She continued, “We've got a marriage, we've got parents, we've got cousins, and so just really being able to look at the stories that people loved season one and the dynamics that people loved season one and the pairings, and sort of like what kind of journey can we put them on season two that feels fun, it feels relevant, that feels surprising, and just really a whole ride of a full season for each of them and just watching it unfold.” With a talented cast and crew behind her, Carla is excited for fans to see where the Banks family's journey takes them next. Watch her full interview below: Our conversation with Carla revealed the meticulous crafting of each character's journey, leaving us eager to learn more about the mind behind the show's themes. Enter director Morgan Cooper, the visionary behind "Bel-Air's" striking visual language and bold exploration of issues like race, family, and survival. We sat down with Morgan to gain insight into his creative process and explore the themes that have made "Bel-Air" such a resonant and thought-provoking show. The “Bel-Air” director is no stranger to bold storytelling. His viral fan film "Bel-Air," which reimagined the classic sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" as a gritty drama, caught the attention of Will Smith himself and ultimately led to the creation of the drama series. Morgan's vision for "Bel-Air" goes beyond simply retelling the story of the Banks family. In our interview, he delved into the powerful themes and messages that he hopes the show will convey. ”The theme of Bel-Air is the story about a black family and the experiences that they have in their life and the challenges that they experience and how they work through them together," Morgan said. ”And how things play out in this bubble that is Bel-Air for a black family. We explore survival skill…is a theme on the show. We explore passions that have laid dormant that are now being revitalized within us." The "Bel-Air" director also acknowledges the difficulties of being in a family. "Being in a family is hard and sometimes sparks fly with the people that you love, but it's important to work through those in a way that is positive and additive towards people's lives," he said. “Those are all things that are infused into the themes of the show.” With these themes at the forefront, Morgan is excited to deliver a thought-provoking and entertaining series that will leave viewers eager for more. Watch his full interview below: We are so ready! ”Bel-Air” Season 2 premiered on Peacock this week (with new episodes streaming weekly). Will you be tuning in this season? Also, if you missed our other exclusive interviews with "Bel-Air" stars Jabari Banks, Coco Jones, Simone Joy Jones, Jordan Jones and more, click HERE and HERE. Photos: Robin Marshall/Peacock