Patiently waiting for the highly anticipated follow-up to A Different World, that beloved classic sitcom from the late ’80s and early ’90s? You’re in luck: Production on the sequel series has officially wrapped in Atlanta. The show — like the original — will explore student life at the fictional HBCU Hillman College. It stars Maleah Joi Moon (Hell’s Kitchen) as Deborah, the rebellious offspring of legacy characters Whitley Gilbert and Dwayne Wayne, played by the original actors Jasmine Guy and Kadeem Hardison. Across 10 half-hour episodes, Deborah and her friends will navigate new challenges and adventures on a 21st-century campus. 

There’s more. Cliff “Method Man” Smith — who’ll play Coach Coles — and Norman Nixon Jr. — who’ll play Professor Baptiste — have been announced as the latest additions to the cast. It’s also been confirmed that they’ll be joined by two more legacy cast members: Karen Malina White (Charmaine Brown) and Ajai Sanders (Gina Deveaux). 

As previously announced, Felicia Pride (Grey’s Anatomy, Bel-Air) is the showrunner, executive producer, and writer of the new A Different World. “Reaching this point in the process to wrap production has been such a long time in the making. I can’t tell you how proud I am of the work that everyone — from our amazing cast to our awesome crew — has done and the creativity and heart that we’ve poured into this show,” she says. “I’m so excited for the world to see the magic we’ve been creating together.”

The iconic Debbie Allen — who directed 83 episodes of the original series and served as primary director from 1989 to 1993 — is back as a director and executive producer. 

Which cast members are returning to A Different World? 

• Kadeem Hardison (A Different World, White Men Can’t Jump) as Dwayne Wayne
• Jasmine Guy (A Different World, Harlem Nights) as Whitley Gilbert
• Ajai Sanders (Phat Tuesdays, Two Degrees, Are We There Yet?) as Gina Deveaux
• Karen Malina White (Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, Malcolm & Eddie) as Charmaine Brown
• Darryl M. Bell (A Different World, School Daze) as Ron Johnson
• Cree Summer (A Different World, Atlantis: The Lost Empire) as Freddie Brooks
• Charnele Brown (Old Gray Mare, The Reading, A Different World) as Dr. Kimberly Reese Boyer
• Jenifer Lewis (Black-ish, What’s Love Got to Do with It, GOAT) as Professor Davenport
• Dawnn Lewis (A Different World, Star Trek: Lower Decks) as Jaleesa Vinson-Taylor
• Glynn Turman (A Different World, In Treatment) as Colonel Bradford Taylor
• Jada Pinkett Smith (Girls Trip) as Lena James

To hear more from the alumni cast of A Different World, click here. 

Who’s in the new cast of the A Different World sequel? 

• Maleah Joi Moon (Hell’s Kitchen) as Deborah
• Alijah Kai Haggins (Everybody Hates Chris) as Rashida
• Cornell Young IV (Doing Life) as Shaquille
• Kennedi Reece (Charged) as Hazel
• Jordan Aaron Hall (The Idea of You) as Amir
• Chibuikem Uche (One of Us Is Lying) as Kojo
• Cliff “Method Man” Smith (PowerBook II, Godfather of Harlem, The Wire) as Coach Coles
• Norman Nixon Jr. (Grey’s Anatomy, Haus of Vicious, The Ms. Pat Show) as Professor Baptiste
• Vincent Jamal Hooper (Chicago Med, Shots Fired) as Ellington
• Elijah J. Roberts (Night Swim) as Jalen
• Renee Harrison (All American: Homecoming, The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat, Law and Order: SVU) as Candace
• Famecia Ward (Blue Bloods, Curse of War, Fear Lake Lanier) as Nellie Gaines 
• Dasan Frazier (Straw, Law & Order, The Ms. Pat Show) as Xavier
• Tichina Arnold (The Neighborhood, Martin) as Darlene Duvall
• Joshua Suiter (All’s Fair) as Andre
• Raven Goodwin (Grotesquerie, Single Black Female) as Dr. Brooklyn Boyer

Stay tuned for more updates on this eagerly awaited sequel.