That '90s Show: Release Date, Cast, And More For The Upcoming Sequel Series
(Welcome to ...And More, our no-frills, zero B.S. guide to when and where you can watch upcoming movies and shows, and everything else you could possibly stand to know.)
It's been more than 15 years since "That '70s Show" went off the air, but fans of the groovy throwback sitcom have never stopped loving it. From the basement "circle" where the core cast of teens kicked back and smoked weed, to the water tower where Kelso (Ashton Kutcher) repeatedly fell, to the driveway of the Formans' home where Eric (Topher Grace) and Donna (Laura Prepon) shared a decade's worth of awkward and romantic moments, Point Place, Wisconsin is a sitcom town that's never really left fans' hearts.
Luckily, we can go back. The series' original creators are returning to Point Place with "That '90s Show," a sequel series that follows a new generation of teenager nerds and ne'er-do-wells as they get stoned, find themselves, and go through the trials and tribulations of growing up. The new series is almost here, so let's dig into everything we know so far:
That '90s Show season 1 release date and where you can watch it
The first season of "That '90s Show" is set to premiere on Netflix, which wasn't a platform for original content back when the previous show ended in 2006. "That '70s Show" aired weekly on Fox, but the new series will drop all 10 of its first season episodes at once on Netflix. You're almost certainly already familiar with the major streamer, but if "That '90s Show" is what's finally convinced you to sign up or re-subscribe, it's worth noting that Netflix has plans ranging in price from $6.99 a month to $19.99 a month.
"That '90s Show" will also be here sooner than you might think. The series will premiere on the streamer on January 19, 2022. It's only fitting that a show about a snowy midwestern town makes a mid-winter debut, right?
What is That '90s Show about?
"That '90s Show" has a clever gimmick that continues the story that began with Eric, Donna, Kelso, Jackie (Mila Kunis), Fez (Wilmer Valderrama), and Hyde (Danny Masterson). While several of the original cast members are set to appear, the protagonist will be Leia (Callie Haverda), Eric and Donna's teenage daughter who spends her summer vacations with her grandparents, Kitty (Debra Jo Rupp) and Red (Kurtwood Smith).
The series' co-creators have revealed that if the show is renewed for future seasons, each one will follow a different summer break Leia spends in Point Place, beginning in 1995. Leia is ready for something new and finds it in a group of friends anchored by Gwen (Ashley Aufderheide), the exciting Riot Grrrl next door who she first befriends when visiting her grandparents. Along for their adventures are Gwen's brother Nate (Maxwell Donovan), Nate's girlfriend Nikki (Sam Morelos), flirtatious Jay (Mace Coronel), and openly gay Ozzie (Reyn Doi). While the new group bonds, Red and Kitty try to get used to a new generation of kids in the house.
The cast and crew of That '90s Show
"That '90s Show" wouldn't work if it didn't have some of that legacy sequel appeal that the new "Scream" movie was on about, but luckily, it does. While "Shut Eye" actor Callie Haverda is the show's lead as Eric and Donna's daughter Leia, audiences will also be eager to see the return of Donna Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith, who played peppy mom Kitty and grumpy Korean War vet dad Red in the original series. While they won't be series regulars, you can also expect to see Donna, Eric, Kelso, Jackie, and Fez at least one more time each, as Laura Prepon, Topher Grace, Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, and Wilmer Valderrama are all expected to return in guest appearances.
The new generation of Point Place kids includes a cast of up-and-comers, just as the original cast was before the show skyrocketed them to fame. You may recognize Ashley Aufderheide, who plays Gwen, from the ABC series "Emergence," while Jay actor Mace Coronel has appeared in "Colin in Black and White" and starred in the Nickelodeon show "Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn." Ozzie actor Reyn Doi has appeared in "Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar," while Maxwell Donovan, who plays Nate, starred in Disney Channel's "Gabby Duran & The Unsittables." And just as actors including Kunis were relative newcomers when making their "That '70s Show" debut, Sam Morelos, who plays Sam, will have her big break in "That '90s Show."
If all that's not enough to pique your interest, it's worth mentioning that two of the original series' co-creators are back for the new project. Bonnie and Terry Turner are on board the new series, with Gregg Mettler and Lindsay Turner joining as co-creators.
Check out the That '90s Show trailer
You can watch the first teaser trailer for "That '90s Show," which shows Red and Kitty breaking their own no-dancing rule while Leia and friends just say "whoa" to drugs, above. It's also worth noting that the new series is set to feature an updated version of the original series' rock anthem theme song, "In the Street," featuring a wickedly '90s arrangement involving Smashing Pumpkins' James Iha and The Donnas' Brett Anderson. I don't think you can hear it much in the teaser just yet, but we'll keep you posted when the full song is released.