Netflix has renewed its freshman series A Different World for a second season.
From creator/showrunner/executive producer/writer Felicia Pride, A Different World follows Deborah (Maleah Joi Moon), Dwayne Wayne (Kadeem Hardison), and Whitley Gilbert’s (Jasmine Guy) free-spirited, well-intentioned, yet rebellious youngest child during her freshman year at Hillman College alongside a whole new generation of Hillman’s best and brightest.
In Season 2, after transformative summers, Deborah and her Hillman classmates return to campus for sophomore year with a “New Year, New Me” attitude, only to find themselves faced with past decisions, uncertain futures, new loves and friendships, and deeper questions of purpose… all while, of course, getting themselves into a whole lot of new mess.
The new class also includes Rashida Duvall (Alijah Kai), a first-gen criminal justice major; Shaquille Johnson (Cornell Young IV), a five-star athlete choosing legacy; Amir Rodale (Jordan Aaron Hall), a sharp psych major better at fixing everyone else’s problems than facing his own; Hazel Henry (Kennedi Reece), a church-raised small-town girl defining her own values; and Kojo Achebe (Chibuikem Uche), a Ghanaian-Nigerian fashion entrepreneur finding the courage to follow his vision.
(L to R) Jasmine Guy as Whitley, Kadeem Hardison as Dwayne, Darryl M. Bell as Ron
And for us old-school fans, back for more, in addition to Guy and Hardison, the series saw the return of Darryl M. Bell as Ron Johnson, Cree Summer as Freddie Brooks, Charnele Brown as Dr. Kimberly Reese Boyer, Jenifer Lewis as Professor Davenport, Jada Pinkett Smith as Lena James, Dawnn Lewis as Jaleesa Vinson-Taylor, and Glynn Turman as Col. Bradford Taylor.
Season 1 premiered on September 24 and debuted in the No. 4 spot on the Global Top 10 English TV list, earning 4.2M views and hitting the Top 10 in 15 countries, Netflix touts in a release.
“It’s so validating to be bolstered by our amazing audience. We are beyond excited to return to Hillman and continue to tell meaningful and heartfelt stories that resonate across generations. I am thrilled for our brilliant cast and our hard-working crew,” Pride shared.
Added executive producer and director Debbie Allen, “YAY! HALLELUJAH! The people and Netflix have spoken. A Different World brought something everybody needed: joy, romance, relevance, authenticity, and HEART! Thank you for getting us into the Top 10 worldwide! And now, gear up! We’re coming back at you with Season 2!!”
In addition to Pride and Allen, the show’s executive producers include Tom Werner, Reggie Rock Bythewood, Gina Prince-Bythewood, and Mandy Summers.
