Netflix orders pilot for A Different World sequel

A Different World might be one of the most underrated series of the 1980s. It began in the shadow of The Cosby Show as a vehicle for Lisa Bonet. She left after a season of her new show, however, and the series got better. It was able to focus more on the great ensemble cast, including the fantastic Jasmine Guy and Kadeem Hardison.

The series was recently added to Netflix, and still makes for binge-watchable viewing. An even better part is that the streamer has been in pre-production of a sequel to the series since 2024. Now, Netflix is doing something it has only done once before. That is, it has ordered a pilot to be shot. The only time this happened before was for Little Sky, a show that never made it to release.

Normally, Netflix purchases fully formed series and makes those shows the streamer's own. That makes financial sense as Netflix has a better idea of the totality of what it is getting and whether subscribers will likely enjoy the series or not. At most studios, a pilot is shot so decision-makers can get a read on the chemistry between the actors and the tone of the show.

Netflix orders pilot for sequel to A Different World

In the original series, A Different World followed students at fictional HBCU Hillman College. They learned about life and how to prepare for the future, and we got to watch them do that. The series was funny, and, at times, quite poignant and timely. It was almost always brilliant.

The sequel, which comes from executive producer Debbie Allen, Fleicia Pride (who will also write), Mandy Summers, Tom Werner, Gina Prince-Bythewood, and Reggie Bythewood (Allen, Werner, and the Blythewoods all worked on the original series), will follow Guy's Whitley Gilbert and Hardison's Dwayne Wayne's oldest daughter, Deborah, as she is now attending an HBCU.

The character of the daughter is not yet cast, and the school she is attending is not yet named. According to Deadline, the pilot filming will take place in Atlanta this summer. There is no known release date for the sequel to A Different World, which is likely 2026 at the earliest.

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