A DIFFERENT WORLD Sequel Series Following Dwayne and Whitley's Daughter in the Works at Netflix
A sequel series based on the hit show A Different World (1987-1993) is in development at Netflix, and it’s said that it will chronicle Dwayne and Whitley’s daughter’s time at Hillman College.
The single-cam, half-hour comedy comes from writer/executive producer Felicia Pride (Bel-Air, Grey’s Anatomy) and executive producers Debbie Allen, Mandy Summers, Tom Werner, Gina Prince-Bythewood and Reggie Bythewood.
A Different World was a spinoff of The Cosby Show, and it followed Denise Huxtable (Lisa Bonet) and her new classmates at Hillman College, a fictional historically Black college. Though Bonet exited after one season, the show continued with the leading cast of Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison, Dawnn Lewis, Darryl M. Bell, Sinbad, Charnele Brown, Cree Summer and Glynn Turman.
The retooled second season continued to follow the students’ lives, with the love story between Guy’s Whitley Gilbert and Hardison’s Dwayne Wayne at the center. Dwayne, famous for his glasses that flipped up, finally put a ring on it in the Season 5 episode “Save the Best For Last.”
Though Whitley was adamant she didn’t want children, she discovers she’s pregnant in “When One Door Closes,” the penultimate episode of the series, and everyone is elated. However, things get somber when Dwayne reveals he’s accepted a job in Japan where he and his wife will raise their family — a different world.
The sequel will center on the couple’s youngest daughter, who is now also attending Hillman, sources share. While casting is yet to begin officially, we hear conversations with original cast members have taken place regarding interest and availability and the response has been positive.
A continuation of the series has been in various stages of development throughout the years but was paused for multiple reasons including the legal issues surrounding Bill Cosby, the creator of A Different World.
The cast reunited earlier this year on Today and The View to celebrate A Different World‘s ongoing impact and legacy. In February, they kicked off a 10-city tour stopping at many HBCUs to encourage student enrollment.
Other notable A Different World alums include Marisa Tomei, who made her TV debut in Season 1, and Jada Pinkett Smith, who starred in the last two seasons early in her career.
Are you looking forward to this new series?
via: Deadline