Sources whisper to Variety of an exhilarating development brewing at Netflix: a captivating sequel series to the beloved "A Different World," this time weaving a tale centered around the charismatic offspring of Dwayne and Whitley. The project, a triumphant collaboration spearheaded by esteemed writer and executive producer Felicia Pride, whose portfolio boasts credits like "Grey's Anatomy" and "Queen Sugar," promises to ignite nostalgia while forging new paths.
Joining Pride in this endeavor are an illustrious lineup of executive producers, including Debbie Allen, Mandy Summers, Tom Werner, Gina Prince-Bythewood, and Reggie Bythewood, with Werner himself, a pillar behind the original series through The Carsey-Werner Company, lending his expertise once more. Netflix, however, remains tight-lipped about the upcoming venture.
"A Different World," a spinoff gem from the "The Cosby Show" universe, gracefully graced NBC's screens for six seasons, commencing in 1987. It chronicled the transformative journey of Denise Huxtable (Lisa Bonet) and her fellow freshmen at the fictitious, historically Black institution, Hillman College. As Bonet's character gracefully exited the narrative after a season, the spotlight shifted to an ensemble cast brimming with talent, led by Dawnn Lewis, Glynn Turman, Cory Tyler, Kadeem Hardison, Lou Myers, Darryl M. Bell, Cree Summer, Jasmine Guy, Charnele Brown, and Jada Pinkett Smith.
At the heart of this reimagined world lay the enduring romance between Whitley (Guy) and Dwayne (Hardison), whose engagement in Season 5 set hearts aflutter. The series' poignant penultimate episode revealed Whitley's pregnancy, a revelation that now serves as the poignant preamble to this long-awaited sequel, over three decades in the making. The new narrative finds Whitley and Dwayne's daughter embarking on her own journey at Hillman, echoing the footsteps of her legendary parents.
The extent of Bill Cosby's involvement in this sequel remains shrouded in mystery, as the comedy legend emerged from prison in 2021 following the overturning of his sexual assault conviction by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
Casting for this eagerly anticipated continuation has yet to officially commence, but anticipation builds as it follows in the footsteps of other successful Carsey-Werner spinoffs, like "That '90s Show," which gracefully landed on Netflix in 2023. Moreover, it mirrors the captivating format of Peacock's "Bel-Air," where Pride herself donned the mantle of supervising producer for Season 3.
Deadline was the first to break the thrilling news, leaving fans eagerly awaiting the next chapter in the "A Different World" legacy.
