Netflix has released the Season 1 trailer for A Different World, the sequel series set at Hillman College. The new series premieres on September 24 and follows a new generation of students at the fictional HBCU while bringing back several characters from the original sitcom.
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At the center of the story is Deborah Wayne, played by Maleah Joi Moon. Deborah is the daughter of Hillman alumni Dwayne Wayne and Whitley Gilbert, played by Kadeem Hardison and Jasmine Guy. As she begins her first year at college, Deborah faces academic pressure, family expectations and the complications that come with building an independent life.
The trailer shows Deborah meeting with academic advisor Dr. Langhorne, played by Debbie Allen. Allen played a major role behind the scenes during the original series, serving as a producer for 122 episodes and directing 83. She returns for the sequel as an executive producer and directed the premiere.
Showrunner and executive producer Felicia Pride describes Deborah as a young woman who has not figured everything out yet. Pride wanted the character to feel relatable to students who arrive at college still working through uncertainty, mistakes and changing priorities.
Deborah also carries the weight of her parents’ history at Hillman. Dwayne and Whitley experienced many formative moments there, and their enthusiasm for the school has shaped Deborah’s expectations long before she arrives. In the trailer, she explains that her parents have encouraged Hillman for years and says she wants to prove that she can succeed on her own terms.
Her new life quickly introduces a wider group of students. Deborah forms a friendship with her roommate Rashida, played by Alijah Kai, and reconnects with Shaquille, played by Cornell Young IV. The two share a romantic past. Shaquille is also an emerging football player and the son of Ron Johnson, played by Darryl M. Bell. Deborah’s circle also includes Hazel, played by Kennedi Reece, Amir, played by Jordan Aaron Hall, and Kojo, played by Chibuikem Uche.
Allen describes college life as one of the core ideas behind the series. She points to the importance of showing young Black students on campus building friendships, falling in and out of love and creating full lives for themselves.
The trailer also brings several original cast members back into the story. Hardison, Guy, Allen and Bell appear alongside Cree Summer, Jenifer Lewis and Jada Pinkett Smith, all returning to their previous roles. The trailer also teases appearances from Summer Walker and Cliff “Method Man” Smith.
