Almost 40 years after the original show premiered and over 30 years since it came to a climax, the sequel series to the 1980s and 1990s sitcom “A Different World” has wrapped filming.
The NBC vehicle — a spin-off from “The Cosby Show” — aired on the popular network from September 24, 1987, until July 9, 1993.
Per IMDb, the show’s premise was as follows: “A group of students at a historically Black university struggle to make it through college.”
The sequel series will explore the lives and loves of a new generation of students at the iconic fictional HBCU Hillman College.
The ‘A Different World’ Sequel Will Introduce Dwayne and Whitley Wayne’s Youngest Daughter
GettyPer IMDb, the sequel series to “A Different World” will “Tell the story of Dwayne and Whitley Wayne’s youngest daughter, Deborah, as she attends a historically Black college.”
The show will stream on Netflix. The popular streaming platform announced it last year, with an Instagram post confirming four returning cast members.
Netflix’s logline for the show reads, “When Deborah, Dwayne Wayne, and Whitley Gilbert’s free-spirited, well-intentioned, yet rebellious youngest child, enters her freshman year at Hillman College, she finds the shadow of her parents difficult to escape as 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.”
According to a Netflix press release, production wrapped in Atlanta on Thursday, April 23.
The cast is something fans of the original series and new viewers alike should be excited about.
It Will Feature a Fantastic Cast and Crew
Per Netflix and IMDb, the “A Different World” sequel series will have an amazing cast and crew.
Felicia Pride is the showrunner, as well as executive producer and writer. Debbie Allen is the director and executive producer. Other executive producers include Reggie Rock Bythewood, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Mandy Summer, and Tom Werner. Each and every one of those people come from impressive entertainment backgrounds.
The series will comprise both actors who featured in the original show and exciting new additions.
Returning Cast Members
GettyThe returning cast includes:
- Kadeem Hardison (A Different World, White Men Can’t Jump) as Dwayne Wayne.
- Jasmine Guy (A Different World, Harlem Nights) as Whitley Gilbert/Wayne.
- Ajai Sanders (Phat Tuesdays, Two Degrees, Are We There Yet?) as Gina Deveaux.
- Karen Malina White (Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, Malcolm & Eddie) as Charmaine Brown.
- Darryl M. Bell (A Different World, School Daze) as Ron Johnson.
- Cree Summer (A Different World, Atlantis: The Lost Empire) as Freddie Brooks.
- Charnele Brown (Old Gray Mare, The Reading, A Different World) as Dr. Kimberly Reese Boyer.
- Jenifer Lewis (Black-ish, What’s Love Got to Do with It, GOAT) as Professor Davenport.
- Dawnn Lewis (A Different World, Star Trek: Lower Decks) as Jaleesa Vinson-Taylor.
- Glynn Turman (A Different World, In Treatment) as Colonel Bradford Taylor.
- Jada Pinkett Smith (Girls Trip) as Lena James.
New Cast Members
GettyNew additions to the cast include:
- Maleah Joi Moon (Hell’s Kitchen) as Deborah.
- Alijah Kai Haggins (Everybody Hates Chris) as Rashida.
- Cornell Young IV (Doing Life) as Shaquille.
- Kennedi Reece (Charged) as Hazel.
- Jordan Aaron Hall (The Idea of You) as Amir.
- Chibuikem Uche (One of Us Is Lying) as Kojo.
- Cliff “Method Man” Smith (PowerBook II, Godfather of Harlem, The Wire) as Coach Coles.
- Norman Nixon Jr. (Grey’s Anatomy, Haus of Vicious, The Ms. Pat Show) as Professor Baptiste.
- Vincent Jamal Hooper (Chicago Med, Shots Fired) as Ellington.
- Elijah J. Roberts (Night Swim) as Jalen.
- Renee Harrison (All American: Homecoming, The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat, Law and Order: SVU) as Candace.
- Famecia Ward (Blue Bloods, Curse of War, Fear Lake Lanier) as Nellie Gaines.
- Dasan Frazier (Straw, Law & Order, The Ms. Pat Show) as Xavier.
- Tichina Arnold (The Neighborhood, Martin) as Darlene Duvall.
- Joshua Suiter (All’s Fair) as Andre.
- Raven Goodwin (Grotesquerie, Single Black Female) as Dr. Brooklyn Boyer.
It looks like the star of the show is Maleah Joi Moon. She’ll play Dwayne and Whitley Wayne’s youngest daughter, Deborah.
Per IMDb, in addition to her most famous role as Ali in Alicia Keys’ jukebox musical “Hell’s Kitchen,” Moon is known for 2021’s “Disney Television Discovers: Talent Showcase” and the 2023 television movie “Mystic Christmas.”
It’s not yet confirmed when the “A Different World” sequel series will hit Netflix, but it should be later this year, with around 10 episodes having been filmed. We can’t wait to see it!
