Tommy Chong is returning as Leo for That ‘90s Show, making Hyde’s absence from the That ‘70s Show sequel series even more noticeable. While That ‘90s Show’s first announcement revealed that the reboot would be led by returning characters Red (Kurtwood Smith) and Kitty Forman (Debra Jo Rupp), Netflix later confirmed that the majority of the original cast would appear in the first season. With Topher Grace (Eric), Laura Prepon (Donna), Wilmer Valderrama (Fez), Ashton Kutcher (Kelso), and Mila Kunis (Jackie) all reprising their roles, the only original That ‘70s Show main character not returning is Danny Masterson’s Steven Hyde.
With the reveal that Tommy Chong’s beloved recurring stoner character is also set to appear in That ‘90s Show, it seems most of the familiar faces from the original series will make a triumphant return. While it’s likely that Netflix made an open invitation to the original cast for That ’90s Show, Danny Masterson was not one of those recipients. That ‘70s Show’s Hyde actor was fired from The Ranch by Netflix in 2017 following multiple allegations of sexual assault. Masterson is still set to face trial for these charges, which means Hyde won’t be appearing alongside the rest of That ‘70s Show’s original characters in the upcoming sequel series.
Leo is now the first recurring That ‘70s Show character confirmed to return for That ‘90s Show, which makes Hyde’s absence even weirder, considering he was Leo’s most significant connection to the group. Leo was first introduced into the series through his relationship with Hyde, which began in That ‘70s Show season 2 when he hired Hyde at the Fotohut. From then on, the majority of Leo’s storylines in That ’70s Show connected to Hyde, with the two sharing an odd father-son dynamic (with Leo sometimes confusing Hyde as the father in their relationship). Tommy Chong’s character would still appear in a few notable plotlines outside of Hyde’s presence, such as when he joined in The Circle with Donna and Jackie or fell in love with Kitty, but Leo’s presence in That ‘70s Show was primarily related to Hyde.
While Leo’s That ‘90s Show return is an excellent choice considering how much fun of a character he was in the original series, it also means Hyde’s absence will be much harder to ignore. Hyde missing from That ‘90s Show was already going to be a major elephant in the room considering that the rest of That ‘70s Show’s original teens are returning, but Leo’s presence in the spinoff makes it even more pronounced. Hyde and Leo had one of the greatest dynamics of That ‘70s Show, so although Tommy Chong’s return will still make for some nostalgic laughs with his stoner persona, it won’t feel as natural without Hyde beside him.
Tommy Chong’s confirmation of Leo’s return also begs the question as to which other recurring characters will be featured in That ‘90s Show. While Don Stark’s Bob Pinciotti moved to Florida in That ‘70s Show’s finale, it would be remiss for the character not to return and interact with his granddaughter, Leia Forman. Alongside Hyde, some of the characters that will inevitably be missing from That ‘90s Show are the late Lisa Robin Kelly’s Laurie Forman (although second Laurie actress Christina Moore could yet return) and Tanya Roberts’ Midge Pinciotti. Still on the table for his That ‘70s Show character to return in That ‘90s Show is season 8’s Randy, though the backlash against Josh Meyers’ character suggests he also won’t be appearing.
