Netflix Greenlights 'That '70s Show' Spinoff Set In '90s — A Look At Who's Returning

Oct 11, 2021 by apost team

Few television shows have been as popular and memorable as "That 70s Show." Many of us may remember the incredibly talented cast who tickled our funny bones with their quirky characters — from the stern Red Forman to Kitty's Forman's signature giggle, the show brought to life the 70s once again. The show also gave its younger cast their breakthrough roles; Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher both became found lasting fame after their time on "That 70s Show." 

The show had a very successful run for eight seasons on Fox, from its start in 1998 to 2006, and chronicled a group of teenage friends who grew up in a fictional Wisconsin town. At the height of the show's popularity, there was also a spin-off for the next decade; "That 80's Show" was set in San Diego, California instead of Wisconsin. However, it did not find the same level of success as the original and did not feature any of the same characters. 

After a lot of talk surrounding another spin-off, it has now been confirmed that Netflix has confirmed that at least two original cast members will be returning for "That 90s Show," which will take place once again in Wisconsin. There may also be other original stars appearing as guests on the show and reprise their role. This announcement certainly has "That 70s Show" fans atwitter at the development! 

There is no set date as to when filming will begin or when the first episodes may be released, but the green light has already been met with positive reactions. 

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the official description of the show states, "Hello, Wisconsin! It’s 1995 and Leia Forman, daughter of Eric and Donna, is visiting her grandparents for the summer where she bonds with a new generation of Point Place kids under the watchful eye of Kitty and the stern glare of Red. Sex, drugs and rock ’n roll never dies, it just changes clothes."

This means that Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith will be reprising their roles as Red and Kitty Forman. While there are currently no deals in place for other long-term members of the show, fans expect that a number of them — including Topher Grace, Laura Prepon and Ashton Kutcher — will make guest appearances as their signature characters. 

"That 90s Show" has been approved for 10 episodes currently, and it will be a multi-cam sitcom like the original. The previous spin-off, "That 80s Show," only ran from January to May 2002, and could not duplicate the success of "That 70s Show." It was set in 1984 and wasn't a direct spinoff per se. The characters and storylines from both shows never crossed, but the main characters of each series were first cousins according to Dateline.

The new spin-off will be executive produced by Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner under the Carsey-Werner Company, which also produced both "That ’70s Show" and "That ’80s Show." The creators of the original series, Bonnie Turner and Terry Turner and their daughter Lindsey Turner, will also be onboard as writers and executive producers for the new show. Smith and Rupp will executive produce in addition to starring.

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Were you a fan of "That 70s Show" when it was airing? How do you feel about a reboot with "That 90s Show?" Tell us your thoughts, and be sure to pass this on to other fans of the show in your life.