Pack your bags, it’s time to head back to Hillman College! Netflix has officially greenlit a sequel series to A Different World, the Cosby Show spin-off that broke ground with its depiction of life at a historically Black college. The streamer has had eyes on reviving the series since the summer of 2024, but things became more serious when all six seasons of the original were released on the platform earlier this year, introducing the show to a new audience. After further testing the waters with a rare pilot order last summer, Netflix has now moved forward with a full 10-episode order, each running 30 minutes.
The sequel series is created by Felicia Pride (Grey’s Anatomy, Bel-Air), who will serve as showrunner and executive producer. “It is such an honor to be a part of bringing back this iconic show, one that I grew up on and which had a profound impact on my life,” Pride shared in a statement. “I am so proud of the work we’re doing to reimagine A Different World for beloved fans and new generations alike.”
The sequel also sees the return of several OG creatives of the NBC classic to help maintain that original tone and vibe that audiences adored. Grey’s Anatomy star Debbie Allen, who famously helped reinvent the original after its uneven first season, will direct three episodes, including the premiere. Also, original series writers Reggie Rock Bythewood and Gina Prince-Bythewood (now acclaimed filmmakers in their own right) are on board as executive producers. They shared a joint statement that reads:
“A Different World changed everything for us. It was where we got our start as writers and where we found each other. This show has always been a part of our love story. To return to Hillman now and help reimagine this world for a new generation feels like a continuation of that legacy – one rooted in love, purpose, and possibility.”
Fans will recall that the original series, which initially centered on Denise Huxtable (Lisa Bonet) before her Season 1 exit, ended with fan-favorite couple, Jasmine Guy’s Whitley Gilbert and Kadeem Hardison’s Dwayne Wayne, expecting a child. While we weren’t looking, their family grew larger to include more kids, and the sequel series will center on the youngest, named Deborah, as “she enters her freshman year at her parents’ HBCU alma mater and finds their shadow difficult to escape. She sets out to build her own legacy — while having the time of her life — alongside a whole new generation of Hillman’s best and brightest,” the logline says.
Who’s in the Cast of ‘A Different World’ Sequel Series?
The sequel series is poised to launch a new set of TV stars. Tony Award winner Maleah Joi Moon, fresh off her breakout performance in Hell’s Kitchen on Broadway, will lead the cast as Deborah. She’s joined by a crop of burgeoning talents, including Chibuikem Uche, Cornell Young, Jordan Aaron Hall, Alijah Kai Higgins, and Kennedi McClure, forming Hillman’s newest class. While no original cast members have been confirmed to return, reports suggest that talks are underway to bring back a few beloved faces in guest or recurring roles. The single-camera sitcom is slated to begin filming from February 5 through April 27, setting the stage for a potential Netflix debut later in the year.
A sequel to A Different World might feel somewhat belated, especially in an era where Hollywood has eagerly revisited nearly every classic. Gladly, it’s finally happening, and as Allen put it, “there couldn’t be a better time than now.” It’s hard to disagree. The runaway success of series like Abbott Elementary, which tackle social issues within an educational setting, proves there’s still a huge appetite for shows like this. With A Different World returning under Netflix’s wing and in the capable hands of its original creatives, the streamer may have its next cultural hit. Stay tuned for future updates.
- Release Date
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1987 – 1993-00-00
- Directors
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Henry Chan, Glynn Turman, Kadeem Hardison, David Blackwell, Kim Friedman, Michael Peters, Peter Werner, Christopher Hibler, Jasmine Guy, Jay Sandrich, John Whitesell, Matthew Diamond
- Writers
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Yvette Lee Bowser, Thad Mumford, Reggie Rock Bythewood, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Judi Ann Mason, Adriana Trigiani, Scott S. Gorden, Jeffrey Duteil, Orlando Jones, Bill Cosby, Matt Williams, Steven Peterman, Karen Kennedy, Joe Gannon, Gary Dontzig, Carmen Finestra, Susan Fales-Hill
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Jasmine Guy
Whitley Gilbert
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Kadeem Hardison
Dwayne Wayne
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Darryl M. Bell
Ron Johnson
