A Different World Reboot Is Taking Us Back to Hillman
By Alexus Mosley
Photo Credit: A Different World/Netflix
School is almost back in session at Hillman College.
Netflix has released the official trailer for its upcoming A Different World sequel series, introducing a new generation of students to the fictional HBCU nearly four decades after the beloved original first premiered.
At the center of the new series is Deborah Wayne, played by Tony Award winner Maleah Joi Moon. Deborah is the youngest daughter of A Different World favorites Whitley Gilbert and Dwayne Wayne, played by Jasmine Guy and Kadeem Hardison. She arrives at Hillman ready to make a name for herself while navigating the inevitable pressure of following in her parents’ very famous footsteps.
And yes, some familiar faces are coming back. Guy and Hardison will reprise their roles alongside Cree Summer as Freddie Brooks, Darryl M. Bell as Ron Johnson, Charnele Brown as Kimberly Reese, Jenifer Lewis as Dorothy Dandridge Davenport, and Jada Pinkett Smith as Lena James. Debbie Allen, who played an integral role behind the scenes of the original series, returns as an executive producer and director.
The new class also includes Alijah Kai, Cornell Young IV, Jordan Aaron Hall, Kennedi Reece and Chibuikem Uche, with Method Man joining the cast as Coach Coles. The first season will consist of 10 half-hour episodes.
Even the theme song is getting a new generation. Brandy has recorded a fresh rendition of the show’s iconic opening theme, following in the footsteps of the voices that helped make the original opening credits unforgettable.
A Different World premieres September 24 on Netflix, exactly 39 years after the original series debuted on NBC. Class is officially back in session.