That '90s ShowGives Update on Eric, Hinting That Topher Grace May Not Return Anytime Soon

Mar. 15, 2025

Topher Grace as Eric and Laura Prepon as Donna in “That ’90s Show”.Photo: Patrick Wymore/Netflix

Warning: The following contains spoilers from That ’90s Show Part 3, Episode 7.

Topher Gracedoesn’t seem to be returning to the Formans' basement in the near future.

Grace, who starred as Eric Forman inThat ‘70s Show, made hisThat ‘90s Showdebut in the January 2023 premiere, but his character likely won’t be returning.

In the series premiere, Eric dropped off his daughter,Leia(Callie Haverda), at his parents’ Red and Kitty’s home in Point Place, Wisconsin, for her summer vacation in 1996. At the time, Eric was employed as an adjunct professor in Chicago, where he taught a course on the religion ofStar Wars.Donna (Laura Prepron) reveals to her and Eric’s daughter that he’s been offered a life-changing job.

As Donna tells Leia, Red (Kurtwood Smith), and Kitty (Debra Jo Rupp), she proposes that she travel between Chicago, where she works, California, Eric’s new home, and Point Place, where she suggests Leia moves to full-time for the school year.

Given Donna’s plans to travel around the country and to Eric, it seems unlikely that Grace, 46, will reappear in the new series again.

Kurtwood Smith as Red Forman, Topher Grace as Eric Forman, Debra Jo Rupp as Kitty Forman, Callie Haverda as Leia Forman in “That ’90s Show” series premiere.Patrick Wymore/Netflix

Grace joined original cast membersMila KunisandAshton Kutcherin the series premiere episode, but the three have yet to return to the Forman’s residence. Additionally,Wilmer Valderrama, who reprised Fez in the first season,has also yet to return to the series.

Valderrama, 44, exclusively told PEOPLE in Junethat there isn’t enough time in his busy schedule to return toThat ‘90s Show. “We’re pushing 20 episodes a season [onNCIS], but at the same time, it’s the kids' jobs,” he added, referring to theThat ’90s Shownewcomers.

Meanwhile, in an April interview withEntertainment Tonight, Kunis, 41, confirmed she and Kutcher were not returning to the series.

“I mean, we did our thing, and I thinkthey introduced the sonright, like it was our son in the show and that was, you know, [enough],” Kunis said.

Laura Prepon as Donna in Season 2 Episode 1 of “That ’90s Show”.Courtesy of Netflix

Courtesy of Netflix

“When you get down to the nitty-gritty of it all, it’s about scheduling…. I will be grateful for the rest of eternity for the contributions of the legacy cast members fromThat ’70s Showin Part 1. Them returning was a blessing, and they handed the show off in a delightful way.”

He continued, “Focusing on our characters now and weaving inThat ’70s Showpeople is a recipe that works for us.”

ilmer Valderrama, Ashton Kutcher, Danny Masterson, Topher Grace, Laura Prepon. Center L-R: Don Stark, Tanya Roberts, Mila Kunis, Lisa Robin Kelly, Debra Jo Rupp, Kurtwood Smith.FOX Image Collection via Getty

FOX Image Collection via Getty

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Seasons 1 and 2 ofThat ‘90s Showare available to stream on Netflix.

source: people.com