Netflix is taking viewers back to Hillman College with the announcement of a sequel to A Different World, the beloved 1980s sitcom that helped redefine television’s portrayal of Black college life.
The streaming giant confirmed the news in a statement, declaring, “We’re officially heading back to Hillman! Introducing the cast of A Different World, a new sequel series, coming soon to Netflix.”
The revival will reunite key creative forces from the original series, blending nostalgia with a modern perspective. Acclaimed producer and director Debbie Allen will return as both director and executive producer, teaming up with Felicia Pride, known for her work on Grey’s Anatomy and Bel-Air, who will serve as showrunner and executive producer. Also joining the project are Reggie Rock Bythewood and Gina Prince-Bythewood, the husband-and-wife duo behind Shots Fired and The Woman King. Both worked as writers on the original A Different World and now return as executive producers alongside Mandy Summers and original series producer Tom Werner. The sequel will center on Deborah Wayne, the free-spirited daughter of A Different World icons Dwayne Wayne and Whitley Gilbert-Wayne. The series will follow Deborah as she begins her freshman year at Hillman, determined to carve out her own legacy while navigating friendships, academics, and modern social issues on campus.
