In 2019, the internet went into a frenzy when Morgan Cooper developed and posted a mock trailer of what it would be like if The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was reimagined as a drama. This fantasy rendition went viral catching the attention of several celebrities, including Will Smith. 

Soon, that fantasy became a reality with the Peacock Original, Bel-Air. To help manifest this new take on a beloved sitcom was Rasheed Newson, showrunner and an executive producer of the new show. Newson’s career as a writer, producer and showrunner has brought him to work on some of the most popular shows out there. 

From The Chi, Narcos, The 100, Lie to Me, and more, Newson has been using his creativity to entertain millions of viewers. When he’s not working on TV, he’s busy writing books, with his debut novel, My Government Means to Kill Me, coming out this August. 

Geeks of Color spoke with Newson on his multifaceted career in entertainment, what it’s like being a Black, queer creative in his industry, what fans can expect from Bel-Air and more. 

Check out the interview with Rasheed Newson below:

Bel-Air is currently streaming on Peacock.

Published by Joshua Mackey

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