If you grew up watching Dwayne Wayne flip up those glasses or rooting for Whitley Gilbert to get her life together at Hillman College, we’ve got some exciting news for you. Netflix’s long-awaited sequel series to A Different World is actively filming right now in Atlanta, Georgia — and it’s bringing a whole lot of nostalgia with it.
Production kicked off on February 5, 2026, and is scheduled to run through late April, with filming taking place across the metro Atlanta area under the code HBCU.
Welcome Back to Hillman
The sequel centers on Deborah Wayne, the youngest daughter of fan-favorite characters Dwayne Wayne and Whitley Gilbert. She arrives at the fictional Hillman College as a freshman, looking to find her own path — all while living in the shadow of her parents’ legendary campus legacy.
Original stars Kadeem Hardison and Jasmine Guy are back to reprise their iconic roles, and they’re not alone. Darryl M. Bell (Ron Johnson), Cree Summer (Freddie), Charnele Brown (Kim Reese Boyer), and Jenifer Lewis (Professor Davenport) are all returning. Tony Award-winner Maleah Joi Moon steps in as Deborah and leads a new generation of cast members including Chibuikem Uche, Alijah Kai Haggins, and more.
The series was created and written by Felicia Pride, the showrunner behind Bel-Air, and original series director Debbie Allen is back as executive producer — and will direct several episodes, including the premiere.
Atlanta Is the Star Too
One of the coolest things about this production is how deeply rooted it is in Atlanta’s real HBCU community. Filming is taking place at actual HBCU campuses including Clark Atlanta University and Morehouse College, giving the show an authenticity that a studio backlot just couldn’t replicate.
Want to Be an Extra?
Here’s where it gets really fun for our readers. Central Casting Georgia has been running casting calls specifically seeking HBCU students and alumni — and really anyone 18 and older — to appear as college students and campus extras. No acting experience is required. You just need to be reliable, on time, and ready to bring some Hillman energy. Roles are paid, and filming continues through late April.
To submit, head to centralcasting.com/submit and use the code HBCU. Keep an eye on Central Casting Georgia’s social media pages as well for updated shoot dates and new calls.
When Can We Watch It?
With production wrapping in late April, a late 2026 or early 2027 Netflix premiere seems most likely. No official release date has been announced yet, but we’ll keep you posted as soon as that changes.
In the meantime, if you spot any filming around Atlanta-area HBCU campuses over the next few weeks, we’d love to hear about it — post it in the Filming In Georgia Group on Facebook!
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