Peacock is expanding the Bel-Air universe with a new series centered on Hilary Banks, the character who emerged as a breakout figure in the reboot. The move — announced as the original show closed its four-season run in 2025 — signals continued investment in the franchise and gives star Coco Jones a leading role that could reshape her career trajectory.
What’s been announced
Westbrook Studios and Universal Television are developing a Hilary-focused spin-off, with writer-producer Tracy Oliver attached to the project, according to Deadline. Working title reports refer to the series simply as Hilary. Coco Jones is expected to return to the role she played on the Bel-Air reboot, this time as the central character navigating a life away from Los Angeles.
The proposed storyline sends Hilary to New York after she accepts a job offer from celebrity chef Yvonne Durand. The series is described as following her efforts to establish an independent identity — professionally and personally — beyond the Banks family name, while confronting unexpected challenges that test her friendships and ambitions.
Key facts at a glance
- Title (tentative): Hilary
- Lead actor: Coco Jones (reprising her Bel-Air role)
- Creative team: Tracy Oliver (writer/creator) with Westbrook Studios and Universal Television producing
- Setting: New York City, marking a tonal shift from Bel-Air’s West Coast backdrop
- Source: Reported by Deadline; project currently in development
Hilary in the reboot began as an influencer and later moved into culinary pursuits — a trajectory the spin-off appears set to expand on by placing her in a professional food-world environment and new social circles. The series would also reconnect the character to a different cultural and industry landscape than fans saw in Los Angeles.
Why this matters now
Streaming platforms have leaned on familiar IP to sustain audience attention; a focused spin-off keeps the Bel-Air brand alive while testing whether a single character can carry a show in a new setting. For Coco Jones, this is a step from ensemble player to lead, offering visibility and creative ownership over a character she helped redefine for modern viewers.
There are broader implications for representation on screen as well. A Hilary-led series would place a young Black woman at the center of a mainstream streaming production, exploring career ambition and personal growth with a contemporary lens.
No premiere date or episode order has been announced. As the project moves through development, expectations should be tempered: networks often commission scripts and early-stage plans that do not always reach production. Deadline’s report is the first public confirmation; further casting, episode counts and a release window will likely follow if Peacock moves the show into series production.
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Hello, I’m Beckett. I cover series and show news for you to make your evenings more captivating.