Janet Hubert, The Original ‘Aunt Viv,’ To Join ‘Bel-Air’ Cast For The Series’ Final Season

Caroline Chikezie (‘Power Book II: Ghost’) will also appear in the upcoming season of the Peacock series.

Janet Hubert attends “The Perfect Find” premiere during the 2023 Tribeca Festival at BMCC Theater on June 14, 2023 in New York City.

Jason Mendez/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival

In a moment that brings the story full circle, Janet Hubert—the original Aunt Viv from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air—is set to join the cast of Bel-Air for its fourth and final season on Peacock.

According to Deadline, Hubert will play a new character that Hilary (played by Coco Jones) meets and becomes a mentor and confidant to, adding depth to Hilary’s journey and bridging generations of strong Black female characters.

Her return marks a significant milestone, as Hubert famously departed the original sitcom midway through its six-season run. Now, more than three decades later, her participation in Bel-Air closes a powerful chapter in television history, uniting the show’s legacy with its bold reimagining.

THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR — Season 1 — Pictured: (l-r) Janet Hubert as Vivian Banks, Will Smith as William ‘Will’ Smith, James Avery as Philip Banks — Photo by: Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank

Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank

Hubert’s addition makes her the sixth OG cast member to appear in the reboot, joining Daphne Maxwell Reid, Vernee Watson-Johnson, Tatyana Ali, Joseph Marcell, and Tyra Banks—who will also appear this season.

Also joining the cast is Caroline Chikezie (Power Book II: Ghost), who will play Dominique Warren, the head of Geoffrey’s (Jimmy Akingbola) former London gang — a role that intertwine with her British background. (Fun fact: the actor portraying the new Uncle Phil is Chikezie’s real-life husband.)

Caroline Chikezie attends the world premiere of Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on December 09, 2024.

Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney

Season 4 of Bel-Air premieres Monday, Nov. 24, with Carla Banks Waddles serving as showrunner, writer, and executive producer.

Other EPs include Morgan Cooper, Will Smith, Terence Carter, James Lassiter, Miguel Melendez, Benny Medina, Quincy Jones, and Andy and Susan Borowitz. Directors this season include Nick Copus, Keesha Sharp, Tina Mabry, and Morgan Cooper.

Janet Hubert speaks during the 2024 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture™ Presented By Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 07, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Cindy Ord/Getty Images for ESSENCE

Produced by Universal Television (a division of Universal Studio Group) and Westbrook Studios, the season promises to honor the show’s roots while cementing its modern legacy.

Hubert is represented by DGRW.

Chikezie is represented by Paradigm and Untitled.

THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR — Season 2 — Pictured: Janet Hubert as Vivian Banks —

Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank

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