A Totally different World is formally again—and this time, it’s rooted even deeper within the tradition. Netflix has began filming the pilot for a extremely anticipated sequel to the enduring sitcom, and the cameras are rolling on none aside from the campus of Clark Atlanta College. This contemporary-day revival isn’t only a nod to HBCU historical past—it’s a celebration of its current and future.
In keeping with HBCU Gameday, manufacturing is already underway, with Netflix selecting to shoot the pilot at CAU, placing an actual HBCU entrance and heart. The story picks up with Deborah Wayne, the daughter of beloved unique characters Whitley and Dwayne Wayne, as she begins her personal journey by means of school life. Deborah shall be performed by Tony Award–profitable actress Maleah Joi Moon, recognized for her breakout function in Hell’s Kitchen on Broadway.
Set on an actual campus and pushed by a brand new technology of expertise, this challenge goals to do greater than revive a fan favourite—it’s setting the tone for what illustration appears like right this moment. Whereas the unique A Totally different World aired from 1987 to 1993, capturing the center of Hillman School and leaving an enduring legacy on HBCU enrollment and popular culture, this sequel is aiming for the same impression in a brand new period.
The artistic crew behind the challenge is simply as highly effective as its message. Felicia Pleasure, a seasoned author and producer recognized for Gray’s Anatomy and Queen Sugar, is main the collection as creator and showrunner. Much more thrilling, Debbie Allen—the unique present’s govt producer and director—is returning to direct the pilot. That continuity is essential to sustaining the authenticity and soul that made A Totally different World resonate with generations of Black college students.
What makes this second significantly particular for the HBCU neighborhood is the choice to shoot on an precise HBCU campus. It’s not simply tv—it’s an funding in legacy. Clark Atlanta College, one of many flagship establishments within the Atlanta College Heart, now joins the cultural dialog because the modern-day Hillman. And whereas the collection is fictional, the setting may be very actual, full of college students, school, and alumni who’re shaping the long run every single day.
Netflix’s method additionally deviates from its regular straight-to-series mannequin by selecting to movie a conventional pilot first. This means a cautious, considerate rollout quite than dashing content material to air. The choice to take the time to develop tone, character chemistry, and viewers reception might sign that Netflix sees this challenge as one thing greater than a one-season experiment.
The timing of this collection isn’t any accident. HBCUs are experiencing a renewed surge in curiosity, funding, and cultural relevance. From nationwide model partnerships to superstar endorsements, the dialog round HBCUs has shifted in a significant manner. This sequel to A Totally different World arrives at a pivotal second, one the place younger Black college students are actively redefining what success, excellence, and id appear like.
And similar to the unique collection helped drive HBCU enrollment throughout its preliminary run, this reboot has the potential to do the identical for a brand new technology. The present reminds us that HBCUs aren’t simply historic—they’re nonetheless shaping the tradition, producing leaders, and telling tales that matter.
