Netflix’s ‘That ‘70s Show’ Spinoff ‘That ‘90s Show’: Everything to Know So Far

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Netflix’s ‘That ‘70s Show’ Spinoff ‘That ‘90s Show’: Everything to Know So Far

Hello Wisconsin! Fans of That ‘70s Show are headed to Point Place in the ‘90s with Eric Forman and Donna Pinciotti’s daughter for the Netflix spinoff series, aptly titled That ‘90s Show. Topher Grace and Laura Prepon starred as Eric and Donna in the original show, which aired on FOX for eight seasons from 1999 to 2006. They were joined on screen by Ashton Kutcher (Michael Kelso), Mila Kunis (Jackie Burkhart), Wilmer Valderrama (Fez) and Danny Masterson (Steven Hyde). News of the spinoff series was first announced by the streamer in October 2021. At the time, Deadline reported that Netflix gave a green light to the series with Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp reprising their roles as Eric’s parents, Red and Kitty Forman. This time around, instead of looking over their son’s every move, they’ll oversee their granddaughter, Leia Forman, while she’s in town for the summer. In February 2022, newcomer Callie Haverda officially nabbed the role of Leia, a teenager who is the perfect combination of her mom and dad. While in Point Place for the summer, Leia wants an adventure, which she will find with a new friend group of her own. “HELLO WISCONSIN!” Haverda captioned an Instagram post following her casting announcement. “I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am!!!!!” [jwplayer wmRtFQei-zhNYySv2] Years before the idea for a That ‘70s Show spinoff came about, Grace expressed his interest in a reunion for the fan-favorite series. “I would do it for sure because that was a very wonderful time for us,” the Home Economics star told The Hollywood Reporter in May 2018. “We were all very close, having that experience every single day with each other. It was great to broadcast it out once a week, but, like, I’m still great friends with those guys. So the fact that someone would pay us to go [hang] out together.” Although he was enthusiastic about the idea, Grace was skeptical about wrangling the entire cast. “If someone said to you, ‘What if I got your whole high school class back together and you hung out for a year?’ Yeah, I don’t think it will happen,” the actor continued. “It would be so hard to bring that crew together. For me, I’d do it if no one ever saw it. Just ’cause it would be great to hang out with them for a week or something.” The Powers That Be managed to get Grace — and several other original That ‘70s Show stars — to reprise their roles for the spinoff. Keep scrolling for everything you need to know about That ‘90s Show so far: [podcast_block]

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When Will 'That '90s Show' Premiere?

The show is set to release a 10-episode season via Netflix on January 19, 2023. 

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The First Announcement

The series was given a green light in October 2021.

“Set in Wisconsin in 1995, That ’90s Show follows Leia Forman, daughter of Eric and Donna, who is visiting her grandparents for the summer and bonds with a new generation of Point Place kids under the watchful eye of Kitty and the stern glare of Red,” the logline for the show read at the time, per Deadline. “Sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll never dies, it just changes clothes.”

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Revealing the Cast

Callie Haverda is set to star as Leia Forman. Completing Leia’s friend group are actors Ashley Aufderheide as Gwen, Mace Coronel as Jay, Maxwell Acee Donovan as Nate, Reyn Doi as Ozzie and Sam Morelos as Nikki.

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Starting Production

Following the casting announcement, both Smith and Rupp took to Instagram and shared photos from their first day on set.

“ … what’s that in my old 70’s Show chair?” Smith captioned a photo of the That ‘90s Show pilot episode script. In her own post, Rupp added, “And we have started.”

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Who Is Returning?

Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp will reprise their roles as Red and Kitty Forman. No other original cast member cameos have been confirmed just yet.

Topher Grace and Laura Prepon will return as Eric Forman and Donna Pinciotti, who are now parents to daughter Leia, The Hollywood Reporter announced in April 2022. Mila Kunis will also reprise her role as Jackie Burkhart, and her real-life husband Ashton Kutcher will once again play Michael Kelso. Wilmer Valderrama will also reprise his role as Fez. It isn't clear if the gang will reunite onscreen or appear in separate episodes.

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Not Everyone Is Coming Back

Danny Masterson is not among the returning cast members set to appear. The actor, who played Hyde in the sitcom, is preparing to go on trial. He pleaded not guilty after being charged in June 2020 with allegedly raping three women in the early 2000s.

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Wilmer Valderrama Is Ready

The actor pulled out his old Fez costume to celebrate the news of the foreign exchange student's return in That '90s Show in May 2022.

"Red? Let’s try this Amédica word again.. 😏," he captioned a video set to Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" via Instagram. "Yup, still fits..." He added the hashtag "Hello Wisconsin," a reference to the original show's opening credits.

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Is Tommy Chong Returning for ‘That 90s Show’?

Chong revealed on “The Dave Mark Show” in May that he will be returning.

“They never gave me any instructions, so I don't know if I'm supposed to be talking about it or not," he said. "I really don't give a s—t to tell you the truth. That's what I'm known for … I’m back as Leo."

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Tears on Set

“It's so fun. It's all the same sets,” the PrepOn Kitchen founder exclusively told Us Weekly in June 2022 of stepping back into the role of Donna. “When I first went there, I cried. I'm just like the nostalgia is so strong and it was such an incredible time in my life. I can't wait for people to see it. I think they're really, really gonna get a kick out of it.”

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Back in the Basement

"We shot it," Kutcher told Entertainment Tonight in July 2022 of reprising his role as Michael Kelso. "It's funny and it's weird. It was super nostalgic and really odd. Going back into the basement — just going back into the set was weird. And then being around everyone, it's just bizarre."

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How Many Episodes of 'That '90s' Show' Will Feature Topher Grace?

While the Home Economics star revealed to Entertainment Tonight in September 2022 that he would only be in “the first episode,” he explained the experience akin to “going home for Christmas to see your whole family.”

“It was a gift,” he gushed. “They are all such amazing, amazing people who are so influential in my life and who I became. To be able to go back and not just hang out with them together, which was so much fun, but then to be able to work again with them ... it was great. And I can't wait for people to see it."

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A Story Line Shakeup

Ahead of the premiere, Kunis teased her character Jackie's arc in That '90s Show. "My husband and I are together in it. Which is weird because we shouldn't have been. My character would be with Fez," she told Access Hollywood in September 2022. "Also, Kelso was married at the end of That's '70s Show. Now we are married with a kid [on the show]. It is very cute."

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The 1st 'That '90s Show' Trailer

The first footage debuted in November 2022 with scenes of Red and Kitty introducing their granddaughter and her friends to the basement. "Welcome back to your favorite basement," the trailer says as Red does his best to scare all the teens in his house.

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What Are the Original ‘That ‘70s Show’ Cast Members Doing in the Spinoff Trailer?

The original That ‘70s Show stars — including Valderrama, Kutcher, Kunis, Grace and Prepon — reunited with Smith and Rupp in a December 2022 trailer for the Netflix spinoff. Valderrama’s Fez is the first OG Park Place teen to appear in the clip, as he’s now a successful hairstylist in town. Kutcher and the Bad Moms star’s characters exchange a knowing look inside the legendary Forman house, while Grace and Prepon cuddle on the hood of their car in the driveway.

“All I know is that I’m going to love her and stand behind her no matter what,” the Valentine’s Day actor quips as Eric, speaking to his TV parents.

“That is a great idea because when you stand behind your kids, it’s easier to put your foot in your ass,” Smith’s Red replies. Eric, Donna and Kitty all finish the sentence in unison.

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Will Other ‘That 70s Show’ Stars Make a Cameo?

Don Stark, who notably played Donna’s father Bob Pinciotti, made his That ‘90s Show debut in a January 2023 teaser. As Kitty and Red planned their granddaughter’s birthday party, they were surprised when Bob knocked on the door — holding a bag of oranges.