On Thursday, Netflix announced that production has commenced on the sequel series to the classic sitcom, A Different World. Back in November, the streamer officially ordered a sequel to the beloved 1987–1993 NBC comedy A Different World, with Bel-Air and Grey’s Anatomy writer Felicia Pride serving as showrunner.

The new chapter will centre on Deborah, played by Tony Award winner Maleah Joi Moon (Hell’s Kitchen on Broadway), the youngest daughter of Whitley Gilbert (Jasmine Guy) and Dwayne Wayne (Kadeem Hardison). Following in her parents’ footsteps, Deborah enrols at Hillman College, the historically Black university that defined their youth, only to find herself navigating the pressures of living up to her parents’ legacy while forging her own.

Apart from Hardison and Guy from the original series, Darryl M Bell returns as Ron Johnson, Cree Summer will make a comeback as Freddie Brooks, and Charnele Brown will also be back as Kimberly Reese, while Jenifer Lewis will reprise her role as the former dean and now professor Dorothy Dandridge Davenport. Joining Moon in the ensemble cast are Alijah Kai, Chibuikem Uche, Cornell Young IV, Jordan Aaron Hall, and Kennedi Reece. New additions to the series that can now be confirmed are Vincent Jamal Hooper, Elijah J Roberts, Renee Harrison, Famecia Warn and Dasan Frazier.

The upcoming series has been in development for over a year and marks one of the rare occasions when Netflix commissioned a pilot before ordering a full season. Debbie Allen, who directed the majority of episodes from the original show, will return to direct the premiere and two additional episodes. She also joins Reggie Rock Bythewood, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Tom Werner, and Mandy Summers as executive producers.

Originally spun off from The Cosby Show, A Different World began by following Denise Huxtable (Lisa Bonet) before shifting focus to a larger cast that included Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison, Dawnn Lewis, Darryl M Bell, Cree Summer, Sinbad, Glynn Turman, and Lou Myers. Bill Cosby, credited as the creator of the original series, is not involved in the Netflix sequel.