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Netflix's A Different World revival isn't a reboot - it's a long-lost season 7 some 32 years later with most of the original cast
Fans of Dwayne Wayne and Whitley Gilbert, your time is coming thanks to Netflix's new A Different World show
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It’s been more than 30 years since audiences have visited Hillman College, the Virginia-based college at the heart of iconic 1980s sitcom A Different World — but preparations are already underway to return, with Netflix’s revival signing up four of the main cast of the show to appear in the new incarnation. Yes, that’s right: Dwayne Wayne is finally getting the comeback he’s so richly deserved for so long.
Wayne — in reality, actor Kadeem Hardison — will be returning in the new Different World alongside his onscreen wife, Whitley Gilbert (Jasmine Guy), with Ron (Darryl M. Bell) and Freddie (Cree Summer) accompanying them. They won’t be the main cast of the series, however — that task falls to Dwayne and Whitley’s daughter and her friends. In other words, think of A Different World 2026 as the original, with some of that family sitcom magic of its original parent show The Cosby Show mixed in.
"We are over the moon to bring this much-anticipated sequel with our returning legacy stars Kadeem Hardison, Jasmine Guy, Cree Summer, and Darryl M. Bell! These beloved characters are returning in a major way that respects their history while engaging exciting storylines that are relevant to issues of today,” executive producers Felicia Pride and Debbie Allen said in a statement to People Magazine. “Throughout the season, fans will have a chance to reunite with these O.G. characters and see how their lives have evolved into A Different World. And as the story unfolds, there will be more cast surprises in store for longtime fans. We can’t wait for lovers of the show to experience this new chapter as a real continuation of the legacy show, and we’re excited to welcome new audiences to Hillman.”
As someone who loved the original show back in the day — I’m old, I admit it — bringing back so many of the original cast members feels like a welcome sign. All we need now is for Marisa Tomei to return as Maggie at least for an extended cameo, and I’m there. (Yes, Marisa Tomei was in the original Different World for the entirety of the first season.)
A Different World is expected to premiere on Netflix at some point in 2026.
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