Now this is a story all about how my life got flipped, turned upside down. Deadline reports that a new series is being developed based on the early life and career of Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff, aka Jeff Townes. Titled 215 (after the original area code for Philadelphia), the project is being developed by Smith’s production company, Westbrook Studios, in partnership with Sayan Navaratnam’s The Malar Group.
215
The series will follow “a quick-witted teenage rapper, the DJ who is his musical other half, and the friends who helped fuel the dream. Together they chase a record deal, money and a way out as Philadelphia’s hip-hop scene takes off. Along the way they deal with label meetings, hometown loyalty, sudden fame and the friendships that hold them together, or almost don’t.” No writer is attached to the project yet.
“Westbrook has always been focused on developing stories with strong characters, distinctive worlds and a clear point of view,” said Terence Carter, President of Television, Westbrook Studios. “215 is especially meaningful to us because it draws from the rise of DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince and celebrates Philadelphia during such a defining era in the city’s late-’80s/early-’90s hip-hop scene. The Malar Group shares our approach to storytelling, and this partnership gives us the opportunity to build a slate together with intention, beginning with a project rooted in friendship, ambition and the integrity of this specific time and place.“
Navaratnam, CEO of Malar Group, added, “We’re excited to partner with Westbrook Studios on a slate of film and television projects driven by distinctive creative vision and exceptional storytelling. 215 caught our attention immediately. It’s the untold origin story of a show that audiences around the world have connected with for decades, but at its heart, it’s about two people who believed in each other, overcame extraordinary odds and built something that endured. 215 marks the start of a broader collaboration with Westbrook Studios, and we look forward to this project and the stories still to come.“
Bel-Air
This isn’t Westbrook’s first series based on Smith’s life, as the company also produced Bel-Air, a dramatic reimagining of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The series, which began life as a fan-film that caught Smith’s eye, ran for four seasons on Peacock.
Are you down for a series about Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff?
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