Imagine getting a call from the original Fresh Prince of Bel Air offering you the role of your career.

Jabari Banks doesn’t have to imagine. Superstar Will Smith personally surprised Banks via video chat with the news that the West Philadelphia native will be stepping into the shoes of the iconic 90s character first played by Smith.

“It is an absolute pleasure to meet you, to be on [this video call] with you, and from the deepest parts of my heart, I want to say congratulations to you,” Smith told Jabari, who has no other acting credits. “You have the role of Will on Bel-Air.”

Banks looks joyful, saying that he’s “so ready” to take on the role. He talked about when his father showed him an article about the Bel-Air reboot, telling him to audition for the role. “That’s not how auditions work,” Banks told his dad, but two months later, he was actually auditioning for the role that would eventually be his.

“This is a dream come true,” Banks told Smith. “The way the show has impacted me and my life, it’s incredible to hear you say that.”

Banks, like Smith, is West Philadelphia born and raised, so he seems a perfect fit for the role of Will. He even has the same last name as Smith’s extended family on the original show.

Morgan Cooper will write, direct and produce the revival, which already has a two-season order from Peacock. In 2019 Cooper created a dramatic short-form viral video based on the show that inspired the reboot.

According to the show’s official description, it will be called Bel-Air, and “set in modern-day America…a serialized one-hour dramatic analogue of the ’90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air that leans into the original premise: Will’s complicated journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air. With a reimagined vision, Bel-Air will dive deeper into the inherent conflicts, emotions and biases that were impossible to fully explore in a 30-minute sitcom format, while still delivering swagger and nods to the original show.”

“You’ve got a fantastic road ahead of you, and I’m looking forward to being an asset for you in this process as you build out your life and build out your career,” Smith told Banks, who called the opportunity “a dream come true.”