A Different World Sequel Wraps Production and Adds More Cast Members; Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro Coming to ABC and Hulu in July

Friday, April 24, 2026

A Different World Sequel Wraps Production and Adds More Cast Members; Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro Coming to ABC and Hulu in July

A Different World - Karen Malina White, Clifford 'Method Man' Smith and Norman Mixon Jr.

Netflix announced that production for Netflix's sequel series of A Different World has officially wrapped in Atlanta, Georgia. The show will explore the lives and loves of a new generation at the iconic fictional HBCU, Hillman College.

Cliff 'Method Man' Smith and Norman Nixon Jr. join the cast, along with legacy cast members Karen Malina White as Charmaine Brown and Ajai Sanders as Gina Deveaux.

· New Cast Announcements:
· Cliff 'Method Man' Smith (PowerBook II, Godfather of Harlem, The Wire) as Coach Coles
· Ajai Sanders (Phat Tuesday, 2 Degrees, Are We There Yet?) as Gina Deveaux
· Karen Malina White (Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, Malcolm & Eddie) as Charmaine Brown
· Norman Nixon Jr. (Grey's Anatomy, Haus of Vicious, The Ms. Pat Show) as Professor Baptiste

Logline: When Deborah (Maleah Joi Moon), Dwayne Wayne (Kadeem Hardison) and Whitley Gilbert's (Jasmine Guy) free-spirited, well-intentioned, yet rebellious youngest child, enters her freshman year at Hillman College, she finds the shadow of her parents difficult to escape as she sets out to build her own legacy, while having the time of her life, alongside a whole new generation of Hillman's best and brightest.

Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro

Dancing with the Stars expands its hit franchise with a new competition series, Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro, coming to ABC and Hulu. The series will premiere July 13, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC, with episodes available the next day on Hulu.

Hosted by wildlife conservationist and Dancing with the Stars Season 34 Len Goodman Mirrorball Champion Robert Irwin, Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro, features 12 exceptional up-and-coming dancers who move into one house and compete in a grueling audition process, all vying for a coveted spot as a pro dancer on Season 35 of Dancing with the Stars. Three-time Mirrorball champion Mark Ballas and his mother, Shirley Ballas "The Queen of Latin" will serve as judges. They will be joined by a star-studded lineup of returning pros who will serve as rotating mentors/guest judges. Details about the returning pros, and contestants will be announced at a later date.

The series is produced by BBC Studios. Conrad Green serves as showrunner and executive producer. Ryan O'Dowd, Krystal Whitney, Alex Cross and Jenny Groom are executive producers. Deena Katz and Quinn Lipton are co-executive producers.