Netflix renews A Different World sequel for second season
Netflix has ordered a second season of A Different World, its revival of the 1987-1993 NBC sitcom. The renewal, meaning Netflix has commissioned more episodes, was reported by Variety on 2 October. Hillman is staying open.
The sequel follows a new generation at Hillman College, a fictional historically Black college, the US institutions known as HBCUs. It centres on Deborah, played by Maleah Joi Moon, the youngest child of original characters Dwayne Wayne and Whitley Gilbert. Season two brings Deborah and her classmates back to campus for sophomore year, meaning their second year, according to Deadline.
Moon leads a young ensemble. Alijah Kai plays Rashida Duvall, a first-generation criminal justice major. Cornell Young IV plays Shaquille Johnson, a five-star athlete. Jordan Aaron Hall plays Amir Rodale, a psychology major. Kennedi Reece plays Hazel Henry, a church-raised small-town student. Chibuikem Uche plays Kojo Achebe, a Ghanaian-Nigerian fashion entrepreneur.
Familiar faces return around them. Jasmine Guy and Kadeem Hardison reprised their roles from the original series. They are joined by Darryl M. Bell as Ron Johnson, Cree Summer as Freddie Brooks, Charnele Brown as Dr Kimberly Reese Boyer, Jada Pinkett Smith as Lena James, Dawnn Lewis as Jaleesa Vinson-Taylor and Glynn Turman as Col. Bradford Taylor. Jenifer Lewis appears as Professor Davenport.
Behind the camera, Felicia Pride created the series and serves as showrunner, the person in day-to-day creative charge, as well as writer and executive producer. Her earlier credits include Grey's Anatomy and Bel-Air, according to Netflix Tudum. Debbie Allen directs and executive produces after directing 83 episodes of the original series. Tom Werner, Reggie Rock Bythewood, Gina Prince-Bythewood and Mandy Summers also serve as executive producers.
The first season runs for 10 episodes and premiered on Netflix on 24 September after production wrapped in Atlanta, Georgia. It debuted at No. 4 on Netflix's Global Top 10 English TV list with 4.2 million views and reached the Top 10 in 15 countries, as reported by Deadline. All six seasons of the original A Different World are also streaming on Netflix in the US.
For fans, this means the new Hillman story gets finished rather than left after freshman year. For the crew and writers' room, it means another cycle of work. A premiere date for season two has not been announced.
