Brandy Sings 'A Different World' Sequel Theme Song
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- Brandy will sing the theme song for Netflix's 'A Different World' sequel series premiering September 24, stepping into a lineage of theme performers that includes Phoebe Snow (Season 1), Aretha Franklin (Seasons 2–5), and Boys II Men (Season 6).
- The original theme was written by Dawnn Lewis, Stu Gardner, and Bill Cosby, the latter of whom created the original 1987 series as a spinoff of 'The Cosby Show.'
- Felicia Pride serves as writer, showrunner, and executive producer on the 10-episode single-cam series, which follows Deborah (Maleah Joi Moon), the youngest child of Dwayne Wayne and Whitley Gilbert, as she enters Hillman College.
- Debbie Allen, who directed 83 episodes of the original series, directed the series premiere of the sequel.
- Eleven original cast members return, including Kadeem Hardison as Dwayne Wayne, Jasmine Guy as Whitley Gilbert, Darryl M. Bell, Cree Summer, Charnele Brown, Jenifer Lewis, Jada Pinkett Smith, Dawnn Lewis, Glynn Turman, Karen Malina White, and Ajai Sanders.
- New cast additions include Alijah Kai as Rashida Duvall, Cornell Young IV as Shaquille Johnson, Jordan Aaron Hall as Amir Rodale, Kennedi Reece as Hazel Henry, and Chibuikem Uche as Kojo Achebe.
- Original-series writers Reggie Rock Bythewood and Gina Prince-Bythewood return as executive producers alongside Tom Werner, Allen, Pride, and Mandy Summers.
Why it matters: The September 24 sequel pairs a Brandy-led theme with the return of 11 original cast members and Debbie Allen in the director's chair — a nostalgia-heavy reset that gives Netflix both a built-in HBCU-sitcom fanbase and a new freshman class to court, as the streamer continues loading its slate with proven franchise IP.
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