'Yo, home to Bel-Air!' Will Smith morphs into Uncle Phil sending the internet into a tailspin and prompts calls for a Fresh Prince reboot

By Chelsea White For Dailymail.com

Published: 19:16 EDT, 14 March 2017 | Updated: 20:04 EDT, 14 March 2017

It has been over 20 years since this actor rapped, 'Now this is a story all about how my life got flipped-turned upside down', in the final episode of this beloved show.

And while Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air re-runs still air around the world, fans have called on its titular star Will Smith to bring the show back and star, not as the Fresh Prince, but as Uncle Phil.

Calls came after a screen grab of video of the 48-year-old bungee jumping surfaced online in which he looks like the late actor James Avery, who played his on-screen uncle.

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Time flies: Will Smith (left) sent the internet into a tailspin after he morphed into Uncle Phil (played by James Avery - right) 

Time flies: Will Smith (left) sent the internet into a tailspin after he morphed into Uncle Phil (played by James Avery - right) 

Buzzfeed was the first to report on the image which was blowing fans' minds across social media.

The video was captured by the star on a GoPro as he lept off a bridge in Victoria Falls in Southern Africa last week.

For one split second, the actor morphed into Uncle Phil and that was enough for calls to do a reboot of this hit show which aired for six seasons from 1990-1996.

While some fans were chocked at just how much will looked like the late James, others like Twitter user @Mr_LCancer saw more.

Here's the story: A screen grab of video of the 48-year-old bungee jumping surfaced online on Sunday and Monday fans started to notice 

Here's the story: A screen grab of video of the 48-year-old bungee jumping surfaced online on Sunday and Monday fans started to notice 

New generation: For one split second, the actor morphed into Uncle Phil and that was enough for calls to do a reboot of this hit show which aired for six seasons from 1990-1996

New generation: For one split second, the actor morphed into Uncle Phil and that was enough for calls to do a reboot of this hit show which aired for six seasons from 1990-1996

He tweeted: 'Imagine Will Smith bringing back The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air and he plays Uncle Phil and passed the torch to another young bull to play him.'

Will is, after all, 48 and James was 44 when he first stepped into Uncle Phil's well-heeled shoes. 

While referred to as the Fresh Prince Will's character was a fictionalized version of himself and also went by Will Smith.

'Tis time: Will is, after all, 48 and James was 44 when he first stepped into Uncle Phil's well-heeled shoes

'Tis time: Will is, after all, 48 and James was 44 when he first stepped into Uncle Phil's well-heeled shoes

Will was sent to live with his well-off relatives after he got in trouble with some guys who were making trouble in his neighborhood.

Told as a fish out of water tale, Wills' antics in Los Angeles' most well-to-do neighborhoods got laughs and turned heads.

But the NBC show also dealt with more serious matters including race relations and the targeting of young black men by the police.

James passed away in 2013 aged 68 after suffering complications post-heart surgery. 

Cult hit: The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air ran from 1990-1996 and also starred (L-R) Janet Hubert Whitten, Joseph Marcell, Alfonso Ribeiro, Karyn Parsons and Tatyana Ali

Cult hit: The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air ran from 1990-1996 and also starred (L-R) Janet Hubert Whitten, Joseph Marcell, Alfonso Ribeiro, Karyn Parsons and Tatyana Ali

 

 

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