- - 'A Different World' Sequel Welcomes Four Legacy Cast Members

Juliana UkiomogbeDecember 20, 2025 at 9:45 PM

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All About the A Different World Revival Joy Malone - Getty Images

Netflix is officially reviving the hit ’90s series A Different World, which was set at the fictional HBCU, Hillman College.

The original cast included Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison, and Jada Pinkett Smith, among others.

The sequel series will introduce a new generation of students, including Tony Award-winning actress Maleah Joi Moon.

Class is back in session at Hillman College. Netflix is officially reviving the classic ’90s series A Different World, which followed the lives of students at a fictional HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities). The original series starred Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison, Cree Summer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Lisa Bonet, Marisa Tomei, and more. Here’s what to know about the upcoming sequel.

What will the new series be about?

Here’s the official synopsis, per Deadline:

The show will center on Deborah Wayne, the youngest daughter of Hillman College’s finest, Dwayne Wayne (played by Kadeem Hardison in the original series) and Whitley Gilbert (Jasmine Guy), as she enters her freshman year at their HBCU alma mater and finds the shadow of her parents 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.

Who is in the cast?

Tony Award winner Maleah Joi Moon (Hell’s Kitchen) will star as Deborah Wayne, Whitley and Dwayne’s daughter.

Dia Dipasupil - Getty Images

The main cast is rounded out by Alijah Kai (Survivor’s Remorse), Chibuikem Uche (Paradise), Cornell Young IV (Forever), Jordan Aaron Hall (The Idea of You), and newcomer Kennedi Reece.

In December 2025, Netflix announced that four legacy cast members were joining the new show: Jasmine Guy as Whitley Gilbert, Kadeem Hardison as Dwayne Wayne, Darryl M. Bell as Ron Johnson, and Cree Summer as Freddie Brooks.

“I realized I’ve missed Whitley, and I can’t wait to see what she’s like now,” Guy said. “The minute the cast got together, we picked up right where we left off. It was like we had never left.”

Bells added, “We’ve wanted to revisit these characters for a very long time. We want to know what happened next. We’ve had more than enough time to think of all the really exciting things that could happen, not only with our characters, but now with all the new students.”

How many episodes will the series be?

According to Deadline, the show will have ten 30-minute episodes.

Who is behind the scenes?

Felicia Pride (Grey’s Anatomy, Bel-Air) will serve as the showrunner and executive producer.

“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,” said Pride, per Tudum. “I am so proud of the work we’re doing to reimagine A Different World for beloved fans and new generations alike.”

Debbie Allen (Grey’s Anatomy), who directed and produced episodes on the original, is returning as executive producer and will direct three episodes, including the series premiere.

“There couldn’t be a better time than now to reboot A Different World,” Allen told Tudum. “Our show changed lives, tripled the enrollment of historically black colleges and gave a strong voice and platform for Young Black America. The incredible fresh young talent we have discovered paired with the lovable audience favorite OGs makes this much-anticipated return a must-see on Netflix.”

Married couple Reggie Rock Bythewood (Get on the Bus) and Gina Prince-Bythewood (The Woman King), who were also writers on the original, will return as executive producers.

“A Different World changed everything for us,” the Bythewoods shared. “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.”

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”