Westbrook Studios, the production company co-founded by Will Smith, has announced the development of a scripted television series centered on the rise of the hip-hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. The project, titled 215, references the area code for Philadelphia, where the story is set.
The series will chronicle Smith’s formative years in Philadelphia during the 1980s, focusing on his collaboration with DJ Jazzy Jeff, born Jeff Townes, as they worked to secure a record deal and establish themselves within the city’s emerging hip-hop landscape. According to the project’s description, the narrative will explore themes including record label negotiations, local ties, sudden fame, and the friendships that define the characters’ journey, whether strengthening or fracturing under pressure.
The announcement represents the inaugural collaboration between Westbrook Studios and The Malar Group, a private equity firm. The two entities have established a broader partnership to develop multiple film and television projects together, with 215 serving as the launch point for their slate. Currently, a writer has not yet been attached to the series.
Terence Carter, president of television at Westbrook Studios, emphasized the company’s commitment to character-driven storytelling with distinct creative perspectives. He highlighted the particular significance of the project to Westbrook, noting its connection to a pivotal moment in Philadelphia’s hip-hop history during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Sayan Navaratnam, CEO of The Malar Group, characterized the series as an untold origin story with universal appeal, positioning it as a narrative about two individuals overcoming obstacles to build something enduring.
Westbrook Studios has previously developed several scripted projects, including the dramatic series Bel-Air, Cobra Kai, and ABC’s Women of the Movement. The studio’s upcoming film projects include a Night of the Living Dead remake, Netflix’s Fast & Loose, and I Am Legend 2.
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