Netflix‘s A Different World sequel series is about to get a bunch of familiar faces as stars from the original cast — including Kadeem Hardison, Jasmine Guy, Cree Summer, and Darryl M. Bell — get set to reprise their roles in the spinoff.
Debbie Allen, who directed, produced, and acted in the original series, will direct the series premiere, as well as two additional episodes.
A Different World was a six-season spinoff of The Cosby Show on NBC. Netflix’s A Different World sequel is created by Felicia Pride of Grey’s Anatomy and Bel-Air. She’ll serve as showrunner and executive producer, according to Deadline. The series previously made a splash when Netflix ordered a pilot for the project, a rare move from the streamer.
The series follows Deborah, the youngest daughter of Hillman College’s finest alum, Dwayne Wayne (played by Hardison in the original series) and Whitney Gilbert (Guy), 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.
“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 said 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.”
Reggie Rock Bythewood and Gina Prince-Bythewood, who were writers on the original series, will return as executive producers alongside Mandy Summers and Tom Werner.
“A Different World changed everything for us,” the Bythewoods said in a joint statement. “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.”
Here’s everything we know about the series, including who’s playing Deborah and more.
Who’s in the A Different World sequel cast?
Deadline reports that Maleah Joi Moon will star as Deborah. Moon recently won a Tony Award for Lead Actress in a Musical for Hell’s Kitchen on Broadway.
The ensemble also includes Alijah Kai as Rashida, Chibuikem Uche as Kojo, Cornell Young IV as Shaquille, Jordan Aaron Hall as Amir, and Kennedi Reece as Hazel.
On December 17, Deadline reported that Hardison and Guy, as well as Summer and Bell, will return to Hillman to reprise their roles as Dwayne, Whitney, Freddie, and Ron.
“A Different World is back!!! YAY!! We are over the moon to bring this much-anticipated sequel with our returning legacy stars Kadeem Hardison, Jasmine Guy, Cree Summer, and Darryl M. Bell! These beloved characters are returning in a major way that respects their history while engaging exciting storylines that are relevant to issues of today,” they shared in a joint statement.
Over its six-season run, A Different World also boasted the talents of Dawnn Lewis, Sinbad, Charnele Brown, Glynn Turman, Marisa Tomei, and Jada Pinkett Smith, among others.
Set at the historically Black institution Hillman College, A Different World initially focused on Lisa Bonet‘s Denise Huxtable. But after Bonet left the show after Season 1 — she was pregnant with Zoë Kravitz at the time — the focus turned to the on-off relationship between Jasmine Guy’s Whitley Gilbert and Kadeem Hardison’s Dwayne Wayne.
When does the A Different World sequel series premiere?
A premiere date will be announced at a later time. According to a report in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Monday, November 10, production is said to take place from February 5 through April 27, 2026.
A Different World Sequel, Series Premiere TBA, Netflix
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