Entertainment
Netflix’s Iconic ’80s Sitcom Reboot Gets Official First Look
Netflix has a bit of a mixed track record with sitcoms, but the streamer has a fair few comedic hits under its belt, from the more traditional shows like The Upshaws and Big Mouth to the more tragi-comic like BoJack Horseman, which plays with the format. They’ve also tried their hand at revisiting a fair few classics over the years. The reboot of Arrested Development in 2013 represented one of the platform’s first big splashes, paving the way for other attempts at recapturing the magic of beloved series with Fuller House, One Day at a Time, and the short-lived but well-received That ’90s Show, among others. Now, the streaming giant is about to return to the grounds of Hillman College for the first time in over 30 years.
September 24 will mark the return of A Different World with a new generation of students stepping onto the campus of the historically Black college where Whitley (Jasmine Guy) and Dwayne Wayne (Kareem Hardison) once roamed. The series will now focus on the couple’s daughter, Deborah Wayne (Maleah Joi Moon), a big-hearted free spirit looking to figure out her path out of her lovingly sheltered life with her parents. Hillman represents the perfect chance for her to grab the spotlight among a diverse class including criminal justice majors, athletes, psych students, and others shaping their own values away from home. Of course, her family is still around to support her too, with both Guy and Hardison returning alongside Cree Summer as Freddie Brooks, and Darryl M. Bell as Ron Johnson.
Ahead of the premiere, Netflix today unveiled a proper first look at the series, primarily showcasing all the new students at Hillman for the fresh semester. Among them is what looks to be a new central couple, as Deborah cozies up with five-star athlete Shaquille Johnson (Cornell Young IV), who is leaning on legacy at the college. The two make for a sweet pair, but they’re also joined by plenty of new friends, from first-gen student Rashida Duvall (Alijah Kai) to Amir Rodale (Jordan Aaron Hall), who is much more suited to solving others’ problems than addressing his own, the church-raised Hazel Henry (Kennedi Reece), and last but not least, Ghanaian‑Nigerian fashion entrepreneur Kojo Achebe (Chibuikem Uche), who is building up the courage to chase his dreams. As the images show, this is a group that will be followed through highs, lows, a lot of laughs, and all the rituals of college in a light-hearted, layered showcase of Black experience. However, a few shots also spotlight Whitley, Dwayne, and their friends as they find new ways to enjoy life beyond Hillman.
Who Is Behind the ‘A Different World’ Reboot?
Felicia Pride will get her chance to shine as a creator and showrunner for the first time with the A Different World sequel. She’s built up a strong resume as a writer on television, penning episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, Bel-Air, and Queen Sugar. In addition to her duties bringing the next chapter of Hillman College to life, she’s also an executive producer, joining returning director and six-time Emmy winner Debbie Allen and her fellow A Different World veterans Tom Werner, Reggie Rock Bythewood, and Gina Prince-Bythewood. Rounding out the team is Mandy Summers.
A Different World premieres on Netflix on September 24. Check out the first images in the gallery above.
- Release Date
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1987 – 1993-00-00
- Directors
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Henry Chan, Glynn Turman, Kadeem Hardison, David Blackwell, Kim Friedman, Michael Peters, Peter Werner, Christopher Hibler, Jasmine Guy, Jay Sandrich, John Whitesell, Matthew Diamond
- Writers
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Yvette Lee Bowser, Thad Mumford, Reggie Rock Bythewood, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Judi Ann Mason, Adriana Trigiani, Scott S. Gorden, Jeffrey Duteil, Orlando Jones, Bill Cosby, Matt Williams, Steven Peterman, Karen Kennedy, Joe Gannon, Gary Dontzig, Carmen Finestra, Susan Fales-Hill
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Jasmine Guy
Whitley Gilbert
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