Coco Jones to Star in Bel-Air Spinoff Hilary in Development at Peacock
Peacock is developing Hilary, a Bel-Air spinoff starring Grammy-nominated artist Coco Jones in the lead role, according to Deadline. Written by Tracy Oliver and produced by Universal Television and Westbrook Studios, the project marks the streaming service’s first scripted original series to receive a spinoff.
Expanding the Bel-Air Intellectual Property at Peacock
Four and a half years after Bel-Air debuted on Feb. 13, 2022, Peacock is building out its streaming catalog by backing a dedicated offshoot. According to Deadline reporting, the mothership series wrapped its four-season run in December after launching as Peacock’s first breakout hit. The new project centers on Hilary Banks, shifting the narrative focus away from Will Smith’s origin story and onto the eldest Banks daughter.
Managing the expansion of valuable intellectual property requires careful navigation of studio agreements and rights management. When media conglomerates spin off flagship properties, entertainment executives routinely rely on specialized IP Law Firms to draft clearance protocols, handle talent option negotiations, and safeguard multi-platform distribution rights across global SVOD markets.
From Los Angeles to New York: Plot Dynamics and Production Teams
Eager to forge an identity separate from her Bel-Air pedigree, she discovers that carving out a career, finding genuine friendship, and navigating romance in the big city demand a steep price. This trajectory departs from the series finale of Bel-Air, which saw her move back to Los Angeles from Costa Rica to launch her own cafe, instead aligning more closely with the series finale of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, where Karyn Parsons’ iteration of the character also moved to New York.
Tracy Oliver pens the script, bringing feature film and television experience that includes writing 2017’s Girls Trip—where she became the first Black woman to write a film that grossed more than $100 million—alongside TV hits like First Wives Club and Harlem. Oliver and Jones executive produce alongside Will Smith, Terence Carter, David Boorstein, and Miguel Melendez of Westbrook Studios, alongside Benny Medina, Andy Borowitz, Susan Borowitz, Morgan Cooper, the Jeff Pollack trust, and the Quincy Jones estate.
Mounting a transatlantic production of this scale is a massive operational lift. Studios and production entities routinely partner with specialized Event Management and Production Logistics teams to coordinate on-location shoots, secure municipal permitting in major metropolitan hubs, and handle high-profile network showcase events.
Coco Jones Balances a Milestone Year in Music and Film
For artists managing dual high-tier careers across music recording and television production, personal branding and public relations require strict oversight. Talent teams frequently engage elite Crisis PR and Reputation Management agencies to protect public image, coordinate press rollouts around awards season, and manage media positioning for major career milestones.
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