Ashton Kutcher revealed what it was like for him to appear in the upcoming That ’70s Show spinoff That ’90s Show. Kutcher made his mark on the television landscape with the period sitcom on Fox from 1998 to 2006. Throughout eight seasons, he and his co-stars Topher Grace, Mila Kunis, Danny Masterson, Laura Prepon, and Wilmer Valderrama portrayed an eclectic friend group coming of age during the 70s. Kutcher played pretty boy Michael Kelso until season 7, only appearing as a guest star during the final season.
Though That ’70s Show developed a large viewership throughout its initial run, the comedy maximized its audience in syndication, speaking to new generations. Much to their delight, Netflix announced a sequel series entitled That ’90s Show in 2021. Boasting the returns of ’70s parental figures Kitty (Debra Jo Rupp) and Red (Kurtwood Smith), the 90s iteration will focus on the daughter of Eric and Donna Forman, Leia (Callie Haverda), as she spends her summer break in Point Place with her grandparents. The upcoming streaming show is set 15 years after the That 70s Show finale and will bring back most of the original cast.
Kutcher explained to Variety what it was like for him to return to the show’s world over a decade later. Touching on how he and his former co-star turned wife Mila Kunis wrestled with the decision, he credited That 70s Show for giving them the large platform they have today. Check out what he had to say about the experience below:
“It was really nostalgic to be back on the set. It’s all the same folks that made That ’70s Show, so it was pretty bizarre. Mila and I were contemplating it. We thought, ‘Listen, we’re only in the position that we’re in because of that show, so let’s just go back and do this. We just went back and had fun for a week. It was so random and fun.”
After all these years, the Vengeance star seemed to experience mixed emotions upon returning to his character Michael. Kutcher also expressed enthusiasm for the new set and storyline, saying it would be very funny. Ultimately, he referred to his and Kunis’ week on the same set they used to work on as both a trip down memory lane and yet incredibly strange. They’re not the only That ’70s Show stars to cameo on That ’90s Show, with Topher Grace, Laura Prepon, Wilmer Valderrama, and Tommy Chong also set to make appearances. Danny Masterson is the only actor not expected to reprise his role due to facing a criminal trial for sexual assault charges.
The iconic cast of That ’70s Show returning to their old stomping grounds bodes well for the property. It not only semi-affirms the wonderful experience they must have had making the original sitcom but alludes to the new addition being just as good. With Kutcher revealing he was on set for a week, which is how long it takes to film an episode of a sitcom, fans can expect to see at least one episode featuring the That ’70s Show cast. While it’s unknown if the entire OG cast will appear in the same episode or have appearances sprinkled throughout the series, the fact that they’re returning is enough to make audiences tune in to That ’90s Show.
