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\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n Hillman College is fictional<\/strong>, but several real colleges helped bring it to life on screen in Netflix\u2019s A Different World<\/strong><\/a><\/em> revival.<\/p>\n The sequel, which started streaming Thursday (September 24), returns to the historically Black college with Maleah Joi Moon<\/strong><\/a> playing Deborah Wayne. Her parents are played by familiar faces, namely Dwayne Wayne and Whitney Gilbert from the original series. Kadeem Hardison<\/strong><\/a> and Jasmine Guy<\/strong><\/a> returned to reprise their roles.<\/p>\n The new series revolves around Deborah beginning her freshman year at the university her parents once attended, providing a new, modern-day perspective on Hillman. But where did the cast actually film the series?<\/p>\n Production took place in Atlanta, with Netflix announcing that filming had wrapped<\/a> in May 2026.<\/p>\n Vanity Fair<\/a><\/em> identifies three historically Black Atlanta institutions where the sequel filmed exterior shots.<\/p>\n Clark Atlanta separately confirmed filming on its campus<\/a> in its announcement about Debbie Allen<\/strong><\/a> serving as the university\u2019s 2026 commencement speaker. Debbie<\/strong> was a showrunner, producer, and director on the original series as well as playing academic advisor Dr. Langhorne.<\/p>\n Spelman\u2019s connection to A Different World<\/em> goes back to the original series.<\/p>\n The college\u2019s Bessie Strong Hall was used as a backdrop for the show, per its housing website<\/a>, and while the original used a Studio City soundstage, real campus imagery has always been part of Hillman\u2019s history.<\/p>\n There is a Spelman connection in the writers\u2019 room as well. Graduate Ashley Laverne Jackson<\/strong> joined the sequel as a staff writer, the college confirmed in a profile published earlier this year<\/a>.<\/p>\n Debbie<\/strong> also returns as an executive producer and directs the premiere. Felicia Pride<\/strong> is the showrunner, and the 10-episode first season is now available on Netflix.<\/p>\n Get to know the new students and returning stars in A Different World<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n Posted To:A Different World<\/a> Netflix<\/a> Television<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nWhere was Netflix\u2019s A Different World filmed?<\/h3>\n
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Did the original show use a real campus, too?<\/h3>\n
How else does the sequel connect to those schools?<\/h3>\n