The long-gestating A Different World sequel has been picked up at Netflix. Earlier this year, it was reported that the streaming service made the rare move of ordering a pilot before committing to a full season. The pilot apparently earned the commitment, as it was announced on Monday school is back in session at Hillman College for Deborah Wayne, daughter of Dwayne Wayne (Kadeem Hardison) and Whitley Gilbert (Jasmine Guy).
Tony winner Maleah Joi Moon (Hell’s Kitchen) will star as Deborah, “the free-spirited, well-intentioned yet rebellious youngest child” of the original show’s fan-favorite couple. The show takes place in Deborah’s freshman year at Hillman, where she “finds the shadow of her parents difficult to escape,” per a synopsis. “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.” She’s joined by Alijah Kai as Rashida, Chibuikem Uche as Kojo, Cornell Young IV as Shaquille, Jordan Aaron Hall as Amir, and Kennedi Reece as Hazel.
Felicia Pride (Grey’s Anatomy), the showrunner and executive producer of the reboot, said in a statement (via Tudum), “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. I am so proud of the work we’re doing to reimagine A Different World for beloved fans and new generations alike.”
In their own statement, executive producers Reggie Rock Bythewood and Gina Prince-Bythewood—writers on the original series—said, “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.”
A Different World began as a spinoff of The Cosby Show, following Lisa Bonet’s Denise Huxtable to Hillman (where her own parents were also alums). Bonet departed after the first season, and Debbie Allen was brought on board to creatively retool the series. Allen “reoriented the show as a fairly traditional ensemble sitcom,” as Emily St. James wrote for The A.V. Club in 2013, and “incorporated elements of theatrical performance” into A Different World while leaning into “the tradition of Norman Lear’s socially conscious ’70s sitcoms.”
Allen returns as an executive producer on the sequel in addition to directing three episodes of the first season (including the reboot’s first). “There couldn’t be a better time than now to reboot A Different World,” she told Tudum. “Our show changed lives, tripled the enrollment of historically black colleges and gave a strong voice and platform for Young Black America. The incredible fresh young talent we have discovered paired with the lovable audience favorite OGs makes this much-anticipated return a must-see on Netflix.”