Netflix Is Bringing Back a Classic ’90s College Sitcom With a New Generation of Hillman Students

Netflix Is Bringing Back a Classic ’90s College Sitcom With a New Generation of Hillman Students Image via Shutterstock By  Safwan Azeem Published 38 minutes ago

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Almost three decades after A Different World ended its run on NBC, Netflix is reviving the show for a whole new generation. The original series began as a spin-off of The Cosby Show and followed Denise Huxtable, played by Lisa Bonet, as she attended Hillman College. Bonet left the series after the first installment, and the show continued on with other characters. The show aired for six seasons and wrapped up in 1993 with Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) revealing he had accepted a job in Japan, and that he and Whitley (Jasmine Guy) would raise their family in a different part of the world.

The new sequel series was first reported to be in development at Netflix in 2024, with a pilot order announced in March 2025. Now, it has been confirmed that the show will move forward with a first season consisting of 10 half-hour episodes. The plot will center on Deborah Wayne, played by Tony Award winner Maleah Joi Moon, who is the free-spirited youngest child of Dwayne and Whitley. The series will follow her story as she starts her freshman year at the same Hillman College her parents attended. Deborah will try to step out from her parents’ shadows and create a legacy of her own while navigating the ups and downs of college life.

Former Grey’s Anatomy writer Felicia Pride will serve as showrunner and executive producer on the sequel series. She went on to share her sentiments to Netflix about becoming a part of the show's behind-the-scenes ensemble in the following words:

"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."

Are Any Original ‘A Different World’ Cast Members Returning?

Even though the series features the daughter of Dwayne and Whitley and the plot hints that a large part of the story will focus on her parents’ legacy, there has been no official confirmation that any original cast members will return. However, it was previously reported that Netflix had been in talks with several former cast members to reprise their roles. It remains unclear whether those talks actually fell through or if Netflix is simply holding off on announcing any returning stars until a later date. Joining Moon as part of Hillman’s new best and brightest are Alijah Kai as Rashida, Cornell Young IV as Shaquille, Chibuikem Uche as Kojo, Jordan Aaron Hall as Amir, and Kennedi Reece as Hazel.

Even if none of the original actors make a comeback, the reboot is bringing back several key people from the original show’s crew. Reggie Rock Bythewood and Gina Prince-Bythewood, who were key writers on the original A Different World, are returning for the new Netflix series. But this time around, they will be stepping into the role of executive producers, alongside Mandy Summers and Tom Werner. Their oversight ensures the upcoming series will stay true to the heart of the original show.

Also returning for the upcoming series is Debbie Allen, who served as producer for 122 episodes and directed 83 episodes of the original show. She will be directing three episodes of the new show, including the premiere. Allen pointed to the original series’ lasting impact as a reason why now is the perfect time to bring the show back. A Different World changed lives, helped triple enrollment at historically Black colleges, and provided a strong platform for young Black Americans. And with the fresh new talent they’ve found for Hillman’s new generation, coupled with the dedication of original crew members, she emphasized that this reboot is poised to be a must-watch on Netflix.

All six seasons of the original A Different World are available to stream on Netflix. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

Like a different world TV-PG Comedy Family Release Date 1987 - 1993-00-00 Network NBC Directors 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 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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