Will Smith doesn't have to cuss in his rap to sell records, so it doesn't seem obvious to correlate his hit TV show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air with Grand Theft Auto. Yet YouTube user Merfish has recreated the entire opening sequence of the sitcom using the newest chapter of the controversial video game series.
Will is played by Franklin Clinton, one of the trio of characters that players switch between during the game. The clip opens with Franklin playing basketball, the dustup that follows, his mother (played by his in-game aunt) forcing him to leave home in Philadelphia/Los Santos and head to live with uncle in Bel-Air (Vinewood in the game). Granted, Merfish can't help but have some fun with the game's violent possibilities. Rather than simply tell the taxi driver "smell ya later," Franklin dusts the cabbie with a shotgun. Upon entering his uncle's stately manor (Michael Townley's home in the game), Franklin pulls out a rocket launcher and unleashes chaos.
It's worth noting that Merfish uses the full, nearly two-minute intro sequence that was featured on the first few episodes of Fresh Prince. He ain't messing around.
This isn't the first time Merfish has recreated classic television with Grand Theft Auto V, but it is the best. The clever editor has also thrown together tributes to Full House, Family Matters and Arthur.
Aspiring filmmakers should take note that you won't be able to piece this sort of thing together with your Xbox version of the game. Only the PC version of Grand Theft Auto features the video editing feature that allows Merfish to stage the shots perfectly. And, even if you do have the technology, it takes a heck of a lot of time and touch to make it look as nice as this.
Check out both the real and the recreated versions below. Bet you can't tell the difference.
