When Netflix revives A Different World this fall, the series won’t just be telling stories about HBCU life — it will feature several people who actually lived it.
The highly anticipated sequel series returns viewers to Hillman College, the fictional HBCU that became a cultural touchstone for Black college life during its original run from 1987 to 1993. But unlike many Hollywood productions centered around HBCU culture, this version includes cast members and creative leaders with real ties to historically Black colleges and universities.
At the center of those connections is legendary producer, director and choreographer Debbie Allen, a Howard University graduate who serves as executive producer of the new Netflix series.
Debbie Allen continues her Hillman legacy
Long before she became one of television’s most influential creators, Debbie Allen was a student at Howard University…