Netflix Is Sending a New Class to Hillman College, and ‘A Different World’s’ Legacy Cast Is Coming With Them

Revivals of beloved sitcoms rarely arrive without skepticism, especially when the original show carries the kind of cultural weight “A Different World” has held for decades. Bringing viewers back to a historically Black college nearly 30 years after the series first went off the air was always going to require a careful balance between honoring what came before and building something new.

Netflix has spent months rolling out casting news and first-look photos for its sequel series, giving fans plenty of time to get acquainted with the new faces stepping into Hillman College’s hallways. Now, with the September 24 premiere just days away, the streamer has officially introduced the full incoming class that will anchor the show’s next chapter.

Netflix has revealed its complete new class for “A Different World,” confirming Deborah, Rashida, Shaquille, Amir, Hazel, and Kojo as the six students who will lead the sequel series when it premieres globally on September 24. Maleah Joi Moon stars as Deborah Wayne, the free-spirited and occasionally rebellious youngest daughter of Dwayne Wayne and Whitley Gilbert, following her as she works to build her own identity while navigating freshman year and the enormous shadow cast by her famous parents.

Rounding out the new Hillman crew are Alijah Kai as Rashida Duvall, a first-generation criminal justice major; Cornell Young IV as Shaquille Johnson, a highly recruited athlete wrestling with questions of legacy; Jordan Aaron Hall as Amir Rodale, a psychology student known for helping everyone except himself; Kennedi Reece as Hazel Henry, a church-raised small-town girl redefining the values she grew up with; and Chibuikem Uche as Kojo Achebe, a Ghanaian-Nigerian entrepreneur pursuing a career in fashion.

Introducing the incoming class of A Different World. Meet Deborah, Rashida, Shaquille, Amir, Hazel, and Kojo when classes begin NEXT THURSDAY. https://t.co/XhKwkWOL7G

— Netflix (@netflix) September 18, 2026

Kadeem Hardison and Jasmine Guy reprise their roles as Dwayne Wayne and Whitley Gilbert, giving the sequel its direct connective tissue to the original series. They’re joined by a substantial group of returning original cast members, including 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 Colonel Bradford Taylor.

The reboot’s creative pedigree also draws heavily on the original show’s legacy. Debbie Allen, who directed 83 episodes of the original series, returns to direct, while Felicia Pride serves as showrunner and executive producer.

The new era of Hillman begins.

A Different World premieres SEPTEMBER 24! pic.twitter.com/qtD0YBYISf

— Netflix (@netflix) August 17, 2026

Pride has spoken openly about what bringing the show back means to her personally. “It is such an honor to be part of bringing back this iconic show, one that I grew up on and which had a profound impact on my life,” Pride told Netflix’s Tudum. “I am so proud of the work we’re doing to reimagine ‘A Different World’ for beloved fans and new generations alike.”

The sequel also brings back several supporting faces from the original run, including Norman Nixon Jr. as Professor Baptiste and Method Man in a role as Coach Coles, further blending the show’s nostalgic roots with fresh storytelling. With Deborah stepping into her parents’ old stomping grounds and a brand-new set of classmates navigating their own paths through Hillman, the series appears designed to appeal equally to longtime fans and viewers discovering the world for the first time.

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