‘A Different World’ Sequel Series at Netflix Taps Four Original Stars
Dwayne and Whitley are reunited in the Netflix “A Different World” sequel. Netflix has released its second round of cast members, featuring four familiar faces that will appear in the new series. The original “Different World” was a sequel spinoff from “The Cosby Show” that became a cultural phenomenon. And you cannot have a “A Different World” sequel without the four original ’90s cast members.
“A Different World” Reunion
That’s right, Netflix has revealed that Whitley Gilbert, played by Jasmine Guy, Dwayne Wayne, played by Kadeem Hardison, alongside best friends Freddie Brooks, played by Cree Summer, and Darryl M. Bell, will return as Ron Johnson, who will star in the new series.
Also returning as executive producer and director is Debbie Allen, who worked on the first generation of “A Different World” as a producer, director, and even stepped into a role on the series.
The Hillman Legacy Lives
With the OG cast in front of the camera and OG production members behind it, and the inclusion of a new generation of students, the Netflix sequel will capture the hearts of both new and old viewers.
In a statement to Deadline, Allen and showrunner and executive producer Felicia Pride expressed their excitement about mixing the returning cast with the new cast, “These beloved characters are returning in a major way that respects their history while engaging exciting storylines that are relevant to issues of today.”
The ladies also added, We can’t wait for lovers of the show to experience this new chapter as a real continuation of the legacy show, and we’re excited to welcome new audiences to Hillman.”
Not a Reboot, A Return
Unlike most 90s and early 2000s reboots that remake the original show with a different cast, the Netflix “A Different World,” sequel will integrate the shows. The new series will pick up where the characters’ lives left off years later, incorporating new stories and students into Hillman’s halls.
The first season spinoff was supposed to center around Denise Huxtable, played by Lisa Bonet, leaving home and going to college. Still, after Bonet parted ways, the show focused on the students at Hillman College with emphasis on the relationship between Dwayne and Whitley. The series concludes with Dwayne and Whitley married, pregnant, and about to embark on a new life on the other side of the world.
The Netflix series “A Different World” will focus on Dwayne and Whitley’s daughter attending Hillman College. According to Tudum by Netflix, the series overview is,
“The new series will follow Whitley and Dwayne’s daughter Deborah (Maleah Joi Moon), a free-spirited and well-intentioned freshman at Hillman. As she settles in at school, Deborah will find it difficult to escape the shadow of her parents.”
Joining Maleah Joi Moon on campus next year are new cast members: Chibuikem Uche, Alijah Kai, Jordan Aaron Hall, Cornell Young IV, and Kennedi Reece.
From Whitley to Deborah
A release date for the new series’ premiere is still unknown. However, the classic “A Different World” is now streaming on Netflix, allowing you to catch up on Dwayne and Whitley’s love story before meeting Deborah and the newest students at Hillman College.
