Netflix has confirmed that singer Brandy will perform the new theme song for its upcoming sequel series *A Different World*, continuing a tradition established by the original 1980s-90s sitcom, which featured different singers performing its theme over its run. Brandy's rendition will play ahead of each episode when the show premieres on 24 September 2026, and Brandy has spoken of the personal significance of taking on such an iconic piece of television history.

The original theme was performed by Phoebe Snow in season one, Aretha Franklin across seasons two to five, and Boys II Men for the sixth and final season; it was written by original cast member Dawn Lewis alongside Stu Gardner and Bill Cosby, who created the show as a spin-off of *The Cosby Show*. The new 10-episode series, from showrunner Felicia Pride, follows Deborah, the daughter of original characters Dwayne Wayne and Whitley Gilbert, as she starts her freshman year at Hillman College, with numerous original cast members reprising their roles alongside a new generation of students; Debbie Allen, who directed 83 episodes of the original series, directed the premiere.