‘A Different World’ Sequel In The Works At Netflix

It looks like Whitley and Dwayne Wayne’s youngest daughter is heading to Hillman College.

We know the pair, of course, from The Cosby Show spinoff A Different World, which aired on NBC for six seasons (from 1987 to 1993). Thirty one years later, a single-camera follow-up focused on Whitley and Dwayne’s college-bound daughter is reportedly in the works at Netflix.

A continuation of A Different World has been in various stages of development throughout the years but was paused by the legal issues that surrounded the Cosby Show star and creator Bill Cosby from 2015 to 2021.

Originally focused on Lisa Bonet as the Huxtable’s second daughter on The Cosby Show, Jasmine Guy as Whitley was promoted to one of the leads in season two of A Different World after Bonet’s premature exit. Ultimately, Kadeem Hardison as Dwayne Wayne also moved up, eventually marrying Guy’s Whitley.

Also featured in the second season of A Different World (and beyond) were Dawnn Lewis, Darryl M. Bell, Sinbad, Charnele Brown, Cree Summer and Glynn Turman. Season one included Marisa Tomei, who four years after exiting the sitcom won an Oscar in the category of Best Actress in a Supporting Role for My Cousin Vinny in 1992.

The proposed single-cam half-hour comedy continuation of A Different World comes from writer/executive producer Felicia Pride (Bel-Air, Grey’s Anatomy) and executive producers Debbie Allen, Mandy Summers, Tom Werner, Gina Prince-Bythewood and Reggie Bythewood.

To-date, results in the network sitcom continuation department on the streaming services have been mixed. Fuller House, which was spun-off from Full House, aired on Netflix for five seasons (from 2016 to 2020). Head of the Class, in contrast, was canceled on Max after one season in 2021. Ditto for Punky Brewster, which streamed on Peacock for one season, also in 2021.

No casting for the proposed A Different World sequel has been announced.