‘Two queens, one throne’: Will Smith confirms BOTH Aunt Viv’s return for Fresh Prince of Bel Air reunion special on HBO Max
The highly anticipated Fresh Prince of Bel Air reunion special airs tonight on HBO Max.
And with just a couple of hours to go, Will Smith confirmed via Instagram that the show will indeed include both Aunt Vivs.
He shared a video clip in which actress Daphne Maxwell Reid walks into the living room and as she sits down in an armchair morphs into original Aunt Viv, actress Janet Hubert.
‘Twp queens’: The Fresh Prince of Bel Air reunion special airs tonight on HBO Max. And a right beforehand, Will Smith confirmed via Instagram that the show will include both Aunt Vivs
Will, who walks onto the set just as the transition happens, is taken aback in shock.
‘Two queens, one throne, all love! #FreshPrinceReunion tonight on @hbomax :-)’ he wrote in the caption.
Hubert played beloved Aunt Viv on the first three seasons of the sitcom before being replaced by Reid.
Originally slated to premiere Thursday, HBO Max surprised fans Wednesday with the news it would be shown at 5 p.m. Pacific on the premium streaming service.
Surprise: He shared a video clip in which he’s seen reacting in shock as he walks onto the living room set and sees Hubert sitting in an armchair. There’s long been rumored to be bad blood between Hubert and Smith but he personally invited her to take part in the reunion
Beginnings: The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air premiered on NBC in 1990 and ran for six seasons. It launched Smith, now 52, on a path to international stardom
There’s long been rumored to be bad blood between Hubert and Smith over what transpired during that third season before the actress’ departure.
But it was leaked earlier this year that Hollywood star Will had personally invited her to take part in the reunion.
A previously released clip teased a conversation between the two suggesting that bridges were being mended.
30 years on: In the HBO Max special, Will reminisces with his former co-stars Alfonso Ribeiro, Tatyana Ali, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Karyn Parsons, and Joseph Marcell
In the HBO Max special, Will, 52, reminisces with his former co-stars about the comedy 30 years after it premiered in 1990 and started him on his road to international stardom.
Taking part are Alfonso Ribeiro, Tatyana Ali, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Karyn Parsons, and Joseph Marcell.
Missing from the line-up is the late James Avery, who played Uncle Phil.
Avery died in 2013 of complications following open-heart surgery.
Prior to starring on The Fresh Prince, Will and DJ Jazzy Jeff were best known for their single Parents Just Don’t Understand, which they followed with the 1991 Top 10 hit Summertime.
Repeat: Like in the original series, Will arrived for the taping at a studio sound stage in a taxi
Back together:The event promises to be a mixture of laughter and tears for the ‘Banks family’
Gone too soon: Missing from the reunion is the late James Avery who played Uncle Phil in the sitcom. He passed away in 2013