Decades afterA Different Worldended, theCosby Showspinoff is gearing up for a sequel, and it finally has a cast. The originalA Different Worldshow ran from 1987 to 1993 and followed Lisa Bonet’s Denise Huxtable and Marisa Tomei’s Maggie Lauten as they attended an HBCU (Historically Black College or University). After the second season, however, Bonet and Tomei both left the show due to Bonet’s pregnancy. Tragically, severalA Different Worldcast members have diedsince the show’s conclusion, including Lou Myers (Vernon Gaines), Diahann Carroll (Marion Gilbert), and Rosalind Cash (Dean Hughes).
According to a report byVariety, Netflix is already planning an updated cast for its sequel show. While there is no word about what will happen to the late actors' characters,the pilot has cast six series regulars already. Chibuikem Uche will be playing Kojo, Maleah Joi Moon will be Deborah, Cornell Young will be Shaquille, Jordan Aaron Hall will be Amir, Alijah Kai Higgins will be Haggins, and Kennedi McClure will be filling out the regular cast members as Hazel.
What This Means For A Different World’s Sequel
The Cast Is Finally Coming Together
WhenA Different Worldended in 1993 after just six years on TV, a follow-up show was an unlikely prospect. The show was extremely topical, focusing on issues that included racism, the AIDS epidemic, and classism. Its setting was the ’80s and ’90s, and it took advantage by addressing everything that its viewers were facing at the time. A follow-up in 2025 is surprising, especially as a sequel would be expected to take a similar route. It was announced in 2024, andthe casting is the first major news about its production.
This is a relatively unknown cast compared to the original show.
The show could potentially be divisive, given its roots inThe Cosby Show. After all, Cosby has become extremely controversial, given that he is facing several sexual assault allegations. The controversy has grown so extreme thatCosby was banned from the Oscarsand has been cast out by other prominent Hollywood organizations.A Different World’s sequel will appear in a world that has been entirely turned against Cosby’s entire legacy within the industry, and sothe show will need to succeed without tying directly to that history, and the all-new cast could help those efforts.
Our Take On A Different World’s Sequel Cast
This Is A Relatively Unknown Cast
While the show will likely face some criticism,A Different World’s sequel castis already fairly interesting. Aside from Maleah Joi Moon, who starred inHell’s Kitchenand brought home the Tony Award for Best Actress for her efforts, this is a relatively unknown cast compared to the original show. Most actors will be hoping to take advantage of this as a breakthrough role, so they should all give their all for everything to the performances. This is an excellent opportunity for everyone involved inA Different World, and they are undoubtedly hoping for its success, just as Netflix is.
Cast
WHERE TO WATCH
A Different World, a spin-off from The Cosby Show, premiered in 1987. Initially following Denise Huxtable at Hillman College, the series later focuses on Whitley Gilbert and Dwayne Wayne as it explores life at a historically black college in Virginia, including depictions of fraternities and sororities.
