Is Hillman College Real? Where Netflix’s ‘A Different World’ Was Filmed | Just Jared
Hillman College is fictional, but several real colleges helped bring it to life on screen in Netflix’s A Different World revival.
The sequel, which started streaming Thursday (September 24), returns to the historically Black college with Maleah Joi Moon playing Deborah Wayne. Her parents are played by familiar faces, namely Dwayne Wayne and Whitney Gilbert from the original series. Kadeem Hardison and Jasmine Guy returned to reprise their roles.
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?
Where was Netflix’s A Different World filmed?
Production took place in Atlanta, with Netflix announcing that filming had wrapped in May 2026.
Vanity Fair identifies three historically Black Atlanta institutions where the sequel filmed exterior shots.
- Clark Atlanta University
- Spelman College
- Morehouse College
Clark Atlanta separately confirmed filming on its campus in its announcement about Debbie Allen serving as the university’s 2026 commencement speaker. Debbie was a showrunner, producer, and director on the original series as well as playing academic advisor Dr. Langhorne.
Did the original show use a real campus, too?
Spelman’s connection to A Different World goes back to the original series.
The college’s Bessie Strong Hall was used as a backdrop for the show, per its housing website, and while the original used a Studio City soundstage, real campus imagery has always been part of Hillman’s history.
How else does the sequel connect to those schools?
There is a Spelman connection in the writers’ room as well. Graduate Ashley Laverne Jackson joined the sequel as a staff writer, the college confirmed in a profile published earlier this year.
Debbie also returns as an executive producer and directs the premiere. Felicia Pride is the showrunner, and the 10-episode first season is now available on Netflix.
Get to know the new students and returning stars in A Different World.
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