A Different World Pilot set at Netflix

The pilot for the followup series to A Different World has cast six main characters.

The series has cast Chibuikem Uche from One Of Us Is Lying as Kojo and Maleah Joi Moon from Broadway's Hell's Kitchen as Deborah, alongside Cornell Young as Shaquille Jordan. Aaron Hall stars as Amir, with Alijah Kai (Tichina Arnold's daughter) as Rashida and Kennedi McClure as Hazel.

Deadline reported the castings, and Netflix declined to comment.

Netflix has ordered a pilot for the project, which is unusual because the streaming service does not typically acquire pilots. As previously noted, Netflix has only made straight-to-series orders and has often skipped the pilot process since it began producing its own shows. This pilot appears to be a one-off rather than a movement in Netflix's strategy toward creating more pilots.

According to Variety, the pilot will be shot in early summer to gauge the show's tone and cast chemistry. According to a source familiar with the matter, Netflix does not intend to engage in a typical pilot season similar to broadcast networks, in which shows compete for a restricted number of slots.

Variety reports that the pilot will be shot in early summer to test the show's tone and cast chemistry. According to a person familiar with the situation, Netflix does not intend to engage in a conventional pilot season like broadcast networks, when shows compete for a limited number of slots.

Felicia Pride serves as writer, executive producer, and showrunner for the project. The sitcom will follow Whitley and Dwayne's daughter, who is following in her parents' footsteps by attending Hillman College, a fictional HBCU. Mandy Summers, Gina Prince-Bythewood, and Reggie Bythewood, both of whom wrote for the original series, are executive producers alongside Debbie Allen, who directed and produced it. Tom Werner of The Carsey-Werner Company also serves as an executive producer.

The first series starred Jasmine Guy and Kadeem Hardison as Whitley and Dwayne, an unusual couple who became the series' primary relationship once Lisa Bonet's character, Denise Huxtable, left. It also included Dawnn Lewis, Sinbad, Cree Summer, Darryl M. Bell, Lou Myers, Charnele Brown, Glynn Turman, Karen Malina White, Jada Pinkett Smith, and others.

A sequel series was in various stages of development over the years, but it was hampered by Bill Cosby's sexual assault allegations and legal troubles.