Over 20 years after That '70s Show premiered, Netflix has announced the cast for the upcoming sequel series set in the '90s. The new cast of That '90s Show is full of young stars derived from the characters of the hit comedy.
The '90s-set Netflix series will center around Leia Forman, the daughter of That '70s Show characters Eric and Donna. Leia will return to the iconic setting of Point Place, Wisconsin, where she will visit her grandparents, Red and Kitty, for the summer.
The new members of the cast will create the familiar dynamic of That '70s Show. Leia Forman will be played by Callie Haverda (from Hulu's Shut Eye). She is described to be smart like Donna and snarky like Eric, giving fans of That '70s Show the best of both worlds. Other cast members include Ashley Aufderheide (Emergence) as Gwen, Maxwell Acee Donovan (Gabby Duran & The Unsittables) as Gwen's older brother Nate, Reyn Doi (Side Hustle) as Ozzie, Mace Coronel (Colin in Black & White) as Jay, and Sam Morelos as Nikki, Nate's girlfriend. This new group of Point Place teens is described with their own priorities to take on the Wisconsin town, much like their predecessors.
Gwen is described as "the unofficial leader of the new generation of Point Place kids." Her rebellious nature is contrasted by her older brother Nate who, "takes life as it comes, usually with a big open smile." Nikki is Nate's girlfriend, "who is focused, smart, and driven." Ozzie is said to be "insightful, sarcastic, and has perspective well beyond his years." His character is also revealed to be gay. Jay is the final piece of the gang's puzzle and is Nate's best friend. He's described as charming and flirty, suggesting he may cause a few Michael Kelso-sized problems.
The Netflix sequel will feature a few familiar faces from the original series. Members of That '70s Show cast include Kurtwood Smith, Debra Jo Rupp, Spider-Man 3 star Topher Grace, Laura Prepon, Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, and Wilmer Valderrama. Smith and Rupp have already been confirmed to appear in the '90s-set sequel, but several other stars are currently in talks to make an appearance as well. That '70s Show co-creators Bonnie Turner and Terry Turner worked with Gregg Mettler and their daughter Lindsay Turner to create the '90s sequel.
The 90s Netflix series has been ordered for 10 episodes and will fall under the guidance of executive producers familiar with the product. Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner, who produced That '70s Show and the short-lived That '80s Show, will serve as executive producers along with Smith and Rupp. That '90s Show appears to continue to use the group dynamic and its tropes that helped make That '70s Show such a hit.
The familiarity in theme and the biological connection that its focal character will share with That '70s Show characters gives the new series a significantly better leg to stand on than That '80s Show. The '90s revival has a promising young cast who have all the tools to succeed whether they are joined by That '70s Show stars, or not.
That '90s Show will be released exclusively on Netflix.
Source: Deadline