Here’s how old the That ‘70s Show characters would be in the follow-up series, That ‘90s Show. The original series has seen multiple spin-offs since its end, with an ill-fated American sequel called That ‘80s Show, as well as a UK remake called Days Like These. Although the UK version reused character names and story elements from the original series, neither spinoff managed to bring back any members of the now-iconic original cast, a trend that this newest installment is likely to break.
That ‘90s Show centers around Leia Forman, the teenage daughter of Eric Forman and Donna Pinciotti, as she spends her summer vacation in Point Place, Wisconsin with her grandparents. This new installment is set to release some time in 2022 and takes place in roughly around May through June of 1995, more than 15 years after the gang rang in the New Year of 1980 during the finale of That ‘70s Show.
Although the only members of the original cast that have so far been confirmed to return are Red and Kitty Forman, with the resources of Netflix at their disposal, it’s probably safe to assume that more will turn up in one way or another. With that in mind, it is worth taking a look at which characters are likely to appear in That ‘90s Show and what they have been up to in the time that has passed.
The pilot of That ‘70s Show takes place on Eric’s 17th birthday (May 18, 1976), meaning all eight seasons of the show span just over four years total. Topher Grace (43) left That ‘70s Show at the beginning of its final season, and although he was still often mentioned, his absence was detrimental to the show as a whole. He did make an appearance in the series’ final episode before continuing his teaching career, which was a nice way to close the chapter on his character, but seeing him and Donna together again, if only briefly, would be an exciting way to kick off this new series.
Grace has been featured in a handful of Netflix original projects, including Love, Death, and Robots, Black Mirror, and the 2017 Brad Pitt film War Machine, and he is currently starring in ABC’s Home Economics. Although he remains one of the busiest cast members (in entertainment, at least), an appearance from Grace is essential to the story’s continuation, so it seems unlikely that he will be omitted.
As the mother of the new show’s protagonist, Donna Pinciotti’s That ‘90s Show appearance seems the most likely. Donna was born on February 13, 1960, putting her a year behind Eric in school. After Eric left for Africa, Donna became the de facto leader of the series, despite Randy's best attempts. Although her arc of individuality and self-exploration was compelling, the shift in the show’s dynamic was too much for most fans to handle. It was implied in the series finale that Donna and Eric would get back together, which evidently wound up being the case given that the two now have a child together. Their relationship has certainly fallen apart in the past, so it will be interesting to see if they have stood the test of time.
Laura Prepon (41) has not appeared in much since That ‘70s Show was cancelled, but she was prominently featured in much of Netflix’s Orange Is The New Black. Hopefully her open schedule and established relationship with Netflix will ensure her booking, especially considering how important her and Eric’s relationship is to the framework of the entire franchise.
Kelso left That ‘70s Show alongside Eric following season seven, moving to Chicago to be a security guard at the Playboy Club and spend time with his newborn daughter. Kelso was born on August 28, 1959, meaning he was barely 20 years old when his daughter was born. Although he had historically been the oaf of the show, constantly mocked for his intelligence (or lack thereof), Kelso was forced to grow up rather quickly following the birth of his daughter, so it would be interesting to see how much more he has changed in the 15 years that have passed.
Since Kelso’s exit from That ‘70s Show, Ashton Kutcher (43) has had perhaps the most illustrious film career of the cast, though he spends much of his time these days outside of the industry, working as a venture capitalist and philanthropist. He is evidently still close with much of the ‘70s Show cast, with many of them appearing in his Netflix series The Ranch, so it would be rather surprising for him not to appear in That ‘90s Show.
Jackie was born September 24, 1961, making her the youngest character in That '70s Show. Actress Mila Kunis (37) also famously lied about her age when auditioning for the role, telling producers that she was 18 years old when she was just 14, which not only makes Jackie younger than the other group members, but also the youngest actress on the show by nearly three years. Jackie was at one point involved with each of the male members of the group, eventually choosing Fez as her partner in the series finale. Fez and Jackie’s relationship was not exceptionally well-received by fans of the show, many of whom felt it would have been preferable for Jackie to end the show as a single woman, so an update on the fate of their relationship seems overdue.
Kunis has been tremendously successful in film since the show’s end, though she has not appeared in a Netflix original project as of yet. However, Kunis and Kutcher were married in 2015, so it stands to reason that she will likely appear in That ‘90s Show alongside her husband.
Hyde is perhaps the most complex character in That ‘70’s Show. Born November 28, 1959, the bad attitude that resulted from what happened with Hyde’s parents defined his character for much of the show, but he went through some rather significant changes for the better in the latter half of the series. By the end of the show, Hyde decides to take his life more seriously and cleans up his act, ultimately being given the keys to his father’s record shop where he had been working. Having changed so greatly over the course of four years, it would be interesting to see if Hyde is even still recognizable now 15 years later.
Danny Masterson (45) has not done much of note since That ‘70s Show’s end apart from having filmed Netflix’s The Ranch alongside Kutcher, so he would likely be willing to appear in the spinoff. However, Masterson is currently facing charges for multiple alleged sexual indiscretions committed in the early 2000s, with proceedings set to begin in November, so his involvement in That ‘90’s Show will likely depend on the outcome of his trial.
Fez (a stylized shorthand for “Foreign Exchange Student”) is an enigma in many ways, but one of the few substantial pieces of information the audience is given about his past is that he was born on August 4, 1960. His home country is often referenced in various absurd ways, but very few specifics were ever given as to its location - or if it is even based on a real country at all. The new series could finally tell fans where exactly Fez is from preceding That '70s Show, clearing up what has become the show’s biggest mystery.
Wilmer Valderrama (41) built up a reputation as a womanizer during his time on the show, publicly detailing a list of high-profile celebrities with whom he had been involved, many of which would wind up appearing in episodes of the show. While this caused some tension at the time, he seems to still be in good standing with most of the cast, appearing on Netflix’s The Ranch alongside quite a few of them.
Kitty was the heart and soul of the original series. Her portrayal of a mid-‘70s working-class housewife was arguably the most essential stroke in painting the portrait of the period that That ‘70s Show did so well. Her manic energy and maternal instincts held the show together, and after more than 15 years of empty-nesting, her return in That ‘90s Show will allow her character to showcase heightened versions of those traits with her granddaughter. Debra Jo Rupp (70) is confirmed to return for the spinoff, serving as an executive producer on the series.
Somewhat surprisingly, Red Forman is perhaps the most iconic member of the That ‘70s Show. His militant, no-nonsense demeanor was the perfect counterpoint to the show’s tone, and his character has lived on in new media, having spawned countless memes. Now in his late 60s, That ‘90s Show will see a post-retirement Red Forman, a lifestyle that is at odds with his disciplined attitude, so it will be interesting to see how he has adjusted to his newly sedentary life. Kurtwood Smith (78) has also been confirmed to return for the spinoff, executive producing the series alongside Rupp.
Father of Donna Pinciotti and her sister Tina (though Tina would be written out of the show after her first appearance), Bob Pinciotti was the neighbor that everyone loves to hate. Although Bob is intended to be only two years younger than Red, actor Don Stark (67) is more than 11 years younger than Smith. Bob was the antithesis of Red: a lovable oaf flaunting his somewhat unearned successes while the stern, hard-working Red struggles. Although the series ends with Bob moving to Florida, his role as a sounding board for Red to vent his frustrations makes him too valuable a comedic partner to exclude.
Leo’s character is a mystery that not even Leo himself seems to be able to solve. After a short time on the show, Tommy Chong's Leo mysteriously disappeared and returned with little explanation after two seasons. His age is never specifically mentioned, but based on comments made throughout the series, best estimates put his year of birth around 1919. All that is known for certain is that he served in World War II, meaning he must have turned 18 sometime before 1945. Leo is a caricature of the stereotypical ‘60s-era hippy who was already out of his element in 1976, so to bring him into 1995 and the age of grunge would be a hilarious way to heighten the absurdity of his character.
Randy Pearson: After Topher Grace left the series, the showrunners came up with a plan to replace Eric with Josh Meyers, but it quickly became clear that recasting the show’s main character would only upset fans. He was instead introduced as Randy Pearson, essentially a hybrid of Eric and Kelso meant to fill the gap in their absence, and fans were upset all the same. Rightly or wrongly, Randy effectively became a concrete symbol of the show’s decline and shouldered a lot of hate as a result, so to bring him back for more than a passing joke would only serve to reopen old wounds.
Midge Pinciotti: Bob Pinciotti went through quite a few women throughout the series, but perhaps none more memorable than Midge, Donna’s mother. Although Midge Pinciotti disappeared after season 3, having divorced Bob to run away to California and pursue a career on Broadway (an appropriately vapid way for her story to end), there was still the possibility that the two would reunite in the future. Unfortunately, actress Tanya Roberts passed away in January of 2021 due to complications from a urinary tract infection, and it is unlikely that showrunners would choose to recast the character out of respect for the late actress.
Laurie Forman: Lisa Robin Kelly originally portrayed Eric’s older sister Laurie Forman before the character was written off and eventually recast in 2003. Kelly reportedly lost a child around this time, causing her to develop a drinking problem that, unfortunately, sent her down the path of self-destruction that would inevitably be the reason Laurie was recast in That '70s Show. After her departure from That ‘70s Show, she was arrested for two DUIs and acquired a history of domestic violence charges. After coming to terms with her past and vowing to get her life on track in 2013, she sadly passed away in August of that year due to an accidental overdose. Although Christina Moore already stepped into the role of Laurie in the show’s latter half, it seems more likely that they will not use the character during That ‘90s Show in order to pay their respects.
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