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A Different World

2026

Deborah Wayne enters her freshman year at her parents' HBCU alma mater and finds their shadow difficult to escape. She sets out to build her own legacy – while having the time of her life – alongside a whole new generation of Hillman’s best and brightest.

So What's Wrong with Getting Reborn as a Goblin?

2026

An ordinary office worker should have died in a traffic accident, but when he awoke he became a goblin. Goblins have a lifespan of only seven days. However, the hero who has been given the skill "Human 80 years" takes advantage of his longevity and takes over the skills of many goblins and even the demon king who is on the verge of destined life, and stands out in a different world. Weakest Race x Strongest Skill = The strongest fantasy is incomparable!

Matt Williams

Executive Producer · Known for Home Improvement

Matt Williams is a television writer, creator and producer. He is the producer of the TV shows Roseanne and Home Improvement and movies such as What Women Want, and has written for The Cosby Show and A Different World as well as writing the screenplay for Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken. Additionally he has written the play "Between Daylight and Boonville", and directed and co-produced the feature film Where the Heart Is starring Natalie Portman. Williams is originally from Evansville, Indiana. The TV show Roseanne uses pictures of places in Evansville. He wrote and directed Walker Payne in 2006, starring Jason Patric, Drea De Matteo, and Sam Shepard.

Felicia Pride

Executive Producer · Known for A Different World

Felicia Pride is a writer, producer, director, and founder whose nearly twenty-five-year career in media and entertainment has been devoted to telling resonant stories of the often overlooked, building creative worlds, and finding meaningful ways to connect those stories with audiences. She is currently the Creator, Showrunner, and Executive Producer of the highly anticipated A Different World sequel, premiering on Netflix in September. Her television work also includes Bel-Air, Grey’s Anatomy, and Queen Sugar. Across her career, Felicia has developed a body of work that centers rich, nuanced characters and expands the kinds of stories, and people, we get to see on screen. In film, Felicia wrote and executive produced Really Love, which became a Top Ten Movie on Netflix and has features in development at Universal, Sony, and AGC Studios. As a director, Felicia gravitates toward intimate, emotionally honest storytelling. Her directorial debut, tender, is an award-winning short film that aired on STARZ. She followed it with Look Back at It, a short that won the Audience Award at the BlackStar Film Festival and was nominated for a Humanitas Prize. Felicia is also the founder of HONEY CHILE, an independent media and production company created to illuminate the lives, power, and influence of Black women 40+. Through original film, television, audio, editorial, book projects, and experiences, HONEY CHILE has built an ecosystem of stories and community around an audience that has been both culturally influential and historically underserved.

Rueben Grundy

Rueben Grundy is a Black American actor whose exact birthday and birthplace are not publicly available in major sources. He has been active since 1987, making his earliest screen credit in The Bold and the Beautiful, and has since accumulated over 65 film and television credits. He is best known for playing Ernest Bennett in 13 episodes of A Different World (1989–1990) and Judge Oliver Young on General Hospital (2021–2022, 2024). His most notable film credits include a Businessman in The Pursuit of Happyness (2006, starring Will Smith), a Street Reporter in The Princess Diaries (2001, with Anne Hathaway), a Buyer in Yours, Mine & Ours (2005, with Dennis Quaid), Reporter Reuben in Mad City (1997, with John Cusack), Johnson in Dopamine (2003), John McMillan in Inferno (2002), and a Guy in Dead Man on Campus (1998). On television he is also known for Stuart "Stu" Fraser in For All Mankind (2026, 5 episodes, Apple TV+), Jake in Grey's Anatomy (2018–2020, 2 episodes), Ian in 24 (2007), Dr. Peter Ryan in The Young and the Restless (2007–2008, 11 episodes), Attorney Jerry in Days of Our Lives (2008–2010), Agent Rice in CSI: Miami (2004), Dr. Jessup in Charmed (2005), and Officer Dexter in Bosch (2017), with additional credits in Truth Be Told, American Crime Story, 9-1-1, Goliath, Bones, Shameless, Unbelievable, Jane the Virgin, Criminal Minds, NCIS, NCIS: Origins, and Parenthood.

Dawnn Lewis

Cast · Known for Futurama, The Simpsons

Dawnn Jewel Lewis (born August 13, 1961) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Jaleesa Vinson–Taylor on the NBC television sitcom A Different World from the series beginning in 1987 until the end of its fifth season in 1992, in addition to co-writing the opening theme song for the series. Lewis's other notable roles include portraying Robin Dumars on the ABC sitcom Hangin' with Mr. Cooper for its first season (1992–93) and as Cheryl Spade in the 1988 film I'm Gonna Git You Sucka. Since then, Lewis has appeared in numerous TV series, including other sitcoms, and has also performed on stage.

Kadeem Hardison

Kadeem Hardison (born July 24, 1965) is an American actor and director. He is best known for his role Dwayne Wayne on A Different World, a spin-off of the long-running NBC sitcom The Cosby Show. He also starred in the Disney Channel series K.C. Undercover as Craig Cooper, the title character's father. ​From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Jasmine Guy

Jasmine Guy (born March 10, 1962) is an American actress, singer and dancer. She is best known for her starring role as Whitley Gilbert in the television sitcom A Different World and Roxy in Dead Like Me. From Wikipedia

Toy Newkirk

Toy Newkirk was an actress most commonly known for her memorable roles in television. Newkirk marked her early career with roles in "A Different World" (1987-1993), the Robert Englund horror sequel "A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master" (1988) and "Beverly Hills 90210" (Fox, 1990-2000). Later, Newkirk acted in "The Commish" (1991-95), "Living Single" (Fox, 1992-98) and "The O.J. Simpson Story" (Fox, 1994-95). More recently, Newkirk worked on "Gastineau Girls" (2004-06).

Ajai Sanders

Ajai Sanders (born Angela Marie Wilson; October 1, 1967) is an American actress and stand-up comedian, best known for her supporting role as Gina Deveaux in the sitcom A Different World from 1991 until the series original ending in 1993. Sanders is sometimes credited as Ajai Richards.

Lou Myers

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Lou Myers (September 26, 1935 – February 19, 2013) was an American actor. He was typically typecast as a grumpy old man, but he appeared in many movies, stage plays television sitcoms, and dramas. He got his first break as an understudy in the Broadway play, The First Breeze of Summer as Reverend Mosley. He is perhaps best known as the feisty Mr. Vernon Gaines in the sitcom A Different World. Myers was also an accomplished pianist. Myers was born in Cabin Creek, West Virginia, the son of Dorothy Jeffries (née Brown). Myers died at the Charleston Area Medical Center in West Virginia after battling pneumonia for several months. Description above from the Wikipedia article Lou Myers (actor), licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Bruce M. Kerner

Cast · Known for The Terminator

Bruce M. Kerner was born on January 1, 1945 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He is a production manager and producer, known for The Terminator (1984), World War II: When Lions Roared (1994) and A Different World (1987).

Glynn Turman

Cast · Known for Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Gremlins

Glynn Russell Turman, born on January 31, 1947, in New York City, is a revered American stage, television, and film actor as well as a writer, whose career spans decades. He gained early recognition for his role as Leroy "Preach" Jackson in the 1975 film "Cooley High." Turman's talent shone on Broadway, earning a Tony Award for "The Great White Hope." He's renowned for TV work in "The Wire," math professor and retired Army colonel Bradford Taylor on the NBC sitcom "A Different World," fictional Baltimore mayor Clarence Royce on the HBO drama series "The Wire" and "House of Lies." His filmography includes impactful roles in "Gremlins" and "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom." With a captivating presence, Turman continues to enthrall audiences, showcasing remarkable versatility and depth in his performances.

Raven-Symoné

Cast · Known for The Cosby Show, Kim Possible, Big City Greens

Raven-Symoné Christina Pearman (born December 10, 1985 in Atlanta, Georgia), known professionally as Raven-Symoné, or simply Raven, is an American actress, singer, songwriter, comedian, dancer, television producer and model. Symone launched her successful career in 1989 after appearing in the show A Different World as Olivia. She released her debut album, Here's to New Dreams in 1993; the single, "That's What Little Girls Are Made Of" charted number sixty-eight on the US Billboard Hot 100. Symoné appeared in several successful television series, such as The Cosby Show and Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, on the mid to late 1980s and early 1990s. In 2003, Symone went on to star in the highly successful Disney Channel series, That's So Raven in which Symone starred as Raven Baxter, a psychic teenager who tried her best to keep her psychic powers a secret. Symone starred in the series from 2003 until 2007. Symone's co-stars of That's So Raven went onto appear in the follow up, Cory In the House; however, Symone did not feature permanently, as she only appeared as a guest in one episode. During her time on That's So Raven, Symone released her third studio album, This is My Time (2004) which was Symone's best selling solo album to date, charting at number fifty-one on the Billboard 200. In 2008, she followed up This Is My Time with the release of her fourth album, Raven-Symoné (2008), which charted at #159 on the Billboard charts. She transitioned to a film career, starring in several films aimed at teenage audiences, including Dr. Dolittle (1998), Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001), College Road Trip (2008), and television movies successful, including The Cheetah Girls (2003), Cheetah Girls 2 (2006), Revenge of the Bridesmaids (2010). Raven has also lent her voice to the animated series Kim Possible, for the character Monique and films such as Disney‘s Tinker Bell. Raven-Symoné also owns a "how-to" video website, Raven-Symoné Presents. Description above from the Wikipedia article Raven-Symoné, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Cree Summer

Cast · Known for Rugrats, The Tom and Jerry Show, Teen Titans Go!

Cree Summer Francks (born July 7, 1969), best known as Cree Summer, is an African-Canadian Aboriginal actress, musician and voice actress. She is perhaps best known for her role as college student Winifred "Freddie" Brooks on the NBC sitcom A Different World. As a voice actress Summer is best known for voicing Astros Chamber on the reality dating show Cosmic Love, Penny in Inspector Gadget during Season 1, Elmyra Duff in Tiny Toon Adventures, Susie Carmichael in Rugrats and All Grown Up, Princess Kida in Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Valerie Gray in Danny Phantom, Foxxy Love in Drawn Together, Numbuh 5 and Cree Lincoln in Codename: Kids Next Door, and Cleo the Dog in Clifford the Big Red Dog. Description above from the Wikipedia article Cree Summer, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia .

Peter Werner

Director · Known for Ghost Whisperer, Grimm, Medium

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Peter Werner (January 17, 1947 – March 21, 2023) was an American television and film director. In 1977, Werner won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film for directing the short film In the Region of Ice. Since then, he worked on primarily directing television amassing a number of television film credits namely Mama Flora's Family, Two Mothers for Zachary, Call Me Claus, Gracie's Choice, Mom at Sixteen and among other films. His television series credits included Ghost Whisperer, Medium, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, A Different World, The Wonder Years, Moonlighting and other series. He was the older brother of television producer Tom Werner. He was the father of Lillie, Katharine and James Werner. Description above from the Wikipedia article Peter Werner, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Vanessa Bell Calloway

Vanessa Bell Calloway is an American actress and dancer. She is known for her film roles as Princess Imani Izzi in the 1988 comedy Coming to America, as well as for her roles in What's Love Got to Do with It, The Inkwell, Crimson Tide, and Daylight. She is a nine-time NAACP Image Award nominee. She began her acting career in the ABC daytime soap opera, All My Children in 1985. After moving to Los Angeles in 1986, she began appearing in episodes of prime time shows such as The Colbys, Falcon Crest, 227, China Beach, A Different World, and L.A. Law. She made her film debut on Number One with a Bullet (1987), before supporting role of Eddie Murphy's character's arranged wife in the 1988 comedy Coming to America. In 1990, she co-starred alongside Joe Morton in the ABC drama series, Equal Justice. During the 1990s, she had a number of supporting roles in films, including What's Love Got to Do with It (1993) opposite Angela Bassett, The Inkwell (1994), and Crimson Tide (1995) as Denzel Washington's character wife. She also voiced main role in the 1992 animated comedy, Bébé's Kids. She had a number of leading and supporting roles in made for television movies. In 1995, she co-starred opposite James Earl Jones and Joe Morton in the short-lived CBS prime time soap opera, Under One Roof, the first drama series that featured African-American lead characters. For her role on the series, Calloway was nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series. She had leading roles on the short-lived NBC sitcom Rhythm & Blues (1992–93), and starred alongside Larry Hagman as his girlfriend in the CBS drama Orleans (1997). In the 2000s, she had recurring roles on Boston Public and The District. She co-starred in films including The Brothers, All About You, Dawg, Biker Boyz, Love Don't Cost a Thing, and Cheaper by the Dozen. She has guest starred on The Division, Strong Medicine, The Closer, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Dexter, Rizzoli & Isles, Castle, and Grey's Anatomy. From 2010 to 2011, she had the recurring role in the TNT medical drama, Hawthorne. In 2011, she began appearing in the Showtime comedy-drama, Shameless. In 2016, she was cast as lead character in the Bounce TV first prime time soap opera, Saints & Sinners. Also in 2016, she co-starred as president Obama's future mother-in-law, Marian Shields Robinson, and in the comedy-drama film Southside with You. In 2018, she appeared in the Christian drama film Unbroken: Path to Redemption and the crime thriller Dragged Across Concrete. In 2019, she played abolitionist Harriet Tubman's mother in the biographical drama film Harriet. She reprised her role as Imani Izzi in the 2021 sequel Coming 2 America.

Kim Wayans

Cast · Known for Scary Movie

Kim N. Wayans is an American actress, comedian, producer, writer, and director. Wayans is the sister of Keenen Ivory, Damon Sr., Marlon, Shawn, and Nadia Wayans. She is best known for her numerous roles on the Fox sketch comedy show In Living Color, and Tonia Harris on In the House. In film she appeared in I'm Gonna Git You Sucka and Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (both directed by her brother Keenen) and had a starring role in the art film Talking About Sex and later co-starred in Juwanna Mann as Latisha Jansen. She starred with her siblings on the Fox variety show In Living Color and A Low Down Dirty Shame. Her other television work includes regular appearances on the sitcom In the House with LL Cool J and a recurring role on A Different World. Recently, she has worked as a story editor on her brother Damon's sitcom My Wife and Kids. In 2008, she co wrote a series of children's books with her husband Kevin Knotts, entitled Amy Hodgepodge, about a multiracial girl adjusting to life in public school after years of homeschooling. In December 2011, she got a chance to showcase her dramatic chops with a supporting role as a mother who struggles to understand her seventeen-year-old daughter in Pariah. She was nominated (alongside co star Pernell Walker) for Best Supporting Actress at the 2012 Black Reel Awards but lost to Octavia Spencer for The Help.

Cory Tyler

Cory Tyler (born Cory Lane Tyler, May 25, 1973), was born in Hollywood, California and began working as an actor at the age of 5. Tyler is the son of famed comedian and ventriloquist Willie Tyler (Willie Tyler & Lester). Tyler has appeared in various commercials, television shows and movies which include Michael Jackson's Moonwalker in 1988 and Season 6 of Kids Incorporated. In 1989, Tyler co-hosted Wild & Crazy Kids on Nickelodeon. In the 1990's Tyler appeared as Herbert Little on Beverly Hills, 90210 He is best known for the role of Terrence Taylor on the NBC sitcom A Different World.

Julius Carry

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Julius J. Carry III (March 12, 1952 – August 19, 2008) was an American actor. Carry appeared primarily in numerous television roles, including Dr. Abraham Butterfield on Doctor, Doctor and the bounty hunter Lord Bowler in the The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. He also portrayed the main villain Sho'nuff in the cult classic film The Last Dragon. In addition to that movie he was also a supporting actor in the Rudy Ray Moore film Disco Godfather, and appeared in the film The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh. He also appeared on shows such as Murphy Brown, Family Matters, A Different World, Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place, and Boy Meets World. His final appearance as an actor was in the season one episode "Eating The Young" on the CBS series The Unit. It aired in 2006. He died on August 19, 2008 of pancreatic cancer. Description above from the Wikipedia article Julius Carry, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Ron O'Neal

​From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.   Ron O'Neal (September 1, 1937 in Utica, New York – January 14, 2004 in Los Angeles, California) was an American actor, director and screenwriter. O'Neal is most remembered for his starring role as Youngblood Priest in the blaxploitation film Super Fly and the anti-villain Cuban officer Colonel Bella in the film Red Dawn, although he also had recurring roles on the television show Living Single as Synclaire's father and as Whitley Gilbert's father on A Different World. He was also a regular on the 1982 series "Bring 'Em Back Alive" with Bruce Boxleitner in which he played the Sultan of Johore. He died in 2004 of pancreatic cancer at the age of 66 on the same day "Super Fly" was released on DVD in the US. Description above from the Wikipedia article Ron O'Neal, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Lisa Bonet

Cast · Known for The Cosby Show

Lilakoi Moon (born Lisa Michelle Bonet), known professionally as Lisa Bonet, is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Denise Huxtable on the long-running NBC sitcom The Cosby Show, and originally starring in its spinoff series A Different World. She earned widespread acclaim and several awards for her role, such as a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1986. She appeared in the psychological horror film Angel Heart (1987), which earned her a nomination for the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress. She co-starred in the action thriller film Enemy of the State (1998), the comedy-drama film High Fidelity (2000), the action drama film Biker Boyz (2003), and the thriller film Road to Paloma (2013). She has sporadically worked in TV acting with such roles as Maya Daniels in Life on Mars (2008–2009) and Marisol on Ray Donovan (2016).

Ted Ross

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Ted Ross (June 30, 1934 – September 3, 2002) was an American actor who was probably best known for his role as the Lion in The Wiz, an all-African American reinterpretation of The Wizard of Oz. He won a Tony Award for the original 1975 Broadway production, and went on to recreate the role in the 1978 film version which also starred Diana Ross and Michael Jackson. Ross went on to appear in the films Arthur and Police Academy, and on the television sitcoms The Jeffersons, Benson, The Cosby Show, and its spin-off A Different World. His final role was in the 1991 film The Fisher King. Ross was born Theodore Ross Roberts in Zanesville, Ohio, but he moved with his family to Dayton at age seven. He died from complications of a stroke he suffered in 1998. He was cremated and his ashes were scattered. Description above from the Wikipedia article Ted Ross, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Adriana Trigiani

Adriana Trigiani is the bestselling author of sixteen books, including the instant New York Times bestseller All the Stars in the Heavens, the blockbuster epic The Shoemaker's Wife; the Big Stone Gap series; Lucia, Lucia; the Valentine series; the Viola series for young adults and the bestselling memoir Don't Sing at the Table. She was an award-winning writer/producer of The Cosby Show (1984) and A Different World (1987) and show runner and executive producer of CityKids (1993). She is the award-winning filmmaker of the documentary Queens of the Big Time (1996). Trigiani wrote and directed the major motion picture Big Stone Gap (2014), based on her debut novel and filmed entirely on location in her Virginia hometown and released on October 9, 2015.