New The Fresh Prince iteration is set in modern-day America and offers a much more gritty interpretation of Will’s story, but just as Carlton remains an important character, so do Aunt Viv and Uncle Phil.

However, Adrian HolmesLooks just a bit differently than the O.G. uncle played by the late, great James Avery. According to him, he admitted that he used the gym regularly. Cassandra Freeman, who plays his on-screen wife, “That’s the reason why he thought he wasn’t gonna get this role.”

Added Holmes, “I thought they were gonna follow the pattern of the original show.”

That is, up until Freeman. 

“When we did the chemistry test and I saw him in the room, I was almost offended,” she joked. I was like “So?” This“Is Uncle Phil?” It was Uncle Phil?

Freeman continued, “Then as soon as Adrian started speaking, the whole vibe and swag that is just Adrian in the character just felt like truth.”