With anticipation building about the upcoming Netflix reboot of “A Different World,” the streamer is whetting fans’ appetite with the release of the first batch of images from the set of the upcoming series.
The new version of the classic show will be both a reboot and a revival, revisiting a sitcom that remains a beloved remnant of 1990s pop culture.
Return to Hillman
NetflixThe original series began as a spinoff of “The Cosby Show,” a vehicle built around Lisa Bonet’s Denise Huxtable that followed her to college. When Bonet became pregnant shortly after her marriage to rocker Lenny Kravitz (resulting in the birth of future star Zoë Kravitz), producers pivoted to retool the sitcom as an ensemble piece — which resulted in the show that fans came to know and love.
Like the original, the new iteration of “A Different World” takes place at the fictional historically Black Hillman College,
“‘A Different World returns to Hillman College with a new class stepping onto campus — and beloved faces coming home,” notes Netflix.
A Link to the Past
NetflixThe new series will focus on Deborah Wayne, spirited daughter of the original series’ fan-favorite couple, Dwayne Wayne (Kadeem Hardison) and Whitney Gilbert (Jasmine Guy).
Per Netflix, Deborah is the couple’s “lovingly sheltered youngest daughter, a free spirit with a flair for the spotlight and a big heart who’s still figuring out her own path at Hillman.”
The Next Generation
Through Deborah’s eyes, viewers will meet a new generation of Hillman students.
“Along the way, she’s joined by a new generation that reflects the breadth of Black life on campus: Rashida Duvall (Alijah Kai), a first‑gen criminal justice major; Shaquille Johnson (Cornell Young IV), a five‑star athlete choosing legacy; Amir Rodale (Jordan Aaron Hall), a sharp psych major better at fixing everyone else’s problems than facing his own; Hazel Henry (Kennedi Reece), a church‑raised small‑town girl defining her own values; and Kojo Achebe (Chibuikem Uche), a Ghanaian‑Nigerian fashion entrepreneur finding the courage to follow his vision,” the synopsis states.
“Set against the rituals, humor, and nuances of an HBCU, ‘A Different World’ is a hopeful dramedy, full of heart and unapologetically centered on the richness and complexity of the Black experience,” adds the synopsis.
Look For Some ‘Different World’ Stars to Return
NetflixAccording to Netflix, when Deborah first arrives at Hillman, 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.”
NetflixIn that vein, some of the show’s original stars will be popping in. Both Kadeem Hardison and Jasmine Guy will appear, as will Cree Summer (who played Freddie Brooks) and Darryl M. Bell (Ron Johnson).
Other OG stars from “A Different World” confirmed to return are Glynn Turman, Dawnn Lewis, Charnele Brown, Jenifer Lewis and Jada Pinkett Smith.
A Familiar Face Behind the Camera
NetflixFelicia Pride will serve as showrunner, writer, and executive producer
She’s joined by executive producer and director Debbie Allen, who famously led the original “A Different World” throughout the majority of its run. Allen is reportedly an integral part of the new reboot, lending her assistance to ensure the new version stays true to the OG sitcom.
Also onboard are executive producers Tom Werner, Reggie Rock Bythewood, Gina Prince-Bythewood and Mandy Summers.
When Will ‘A Different World’ Premiere
Netflix“A Different World” will make its debut September 24 on Netflix.
