That 70s Show Star Open to Returning as Fez on That 90s Show
Wilmer Valderrama is open to appearing on the upcoming That '90s Show, a spinoff of the long-running That '70s Show where he had a lead role for all 8 seasons. Since That '70s Show ended, Valderrama has made appearances in NCIS, From Dusk till Dawn: The Series, and Encanto. He's also confirmed to play masked swordfighter Zorro in a new untitled series for Disney.
That '90s Show will pick up in 1995, 15 years after That '70s Show ended. The series' end saw Leia (Callie Haverda), the daughter of original protagonists Eric (Topher Grace) and Donna (Laura Prepon), sent to Point Place, Wisconsin to spend the summer with her grandparents Kitty and Red (Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith). Rupp and Smith are the only former cast members confirmed to appear on That '90s Show as of now, with Grace, Prepon, Mila Kunis, and Ashton Kutcher reportedly in negotiations to have guest spots. Original cast member Danny Masterson is not expected to appear due to ongoing legal issues.
In an interview with TVInsider, Valderrama confirms that he would be happy to appear in the new spinoff, but hasn't been asked. He notes how busy he currently is with filming NCIS and his new Zorro series but would love to appear if the timing could be worked out. He also mentions how excited he is for his former co-stars and how much faith he has in the spinoff. Read his quote below:
I’m a little busy now, but I support them so much. I’m rooting for them. I wish them nothing but the best. And if the timing is right, I’d never say no.
That '90s Show is set to replicate its predecessor's look and feel, recreating the sets and having a similar multi-cam setup, contrary to the single-camera setup most modern sitcoms have. The series is also set to be executive produced by original creators Bonnie and Terry Turner, with their daughter Lindsay Turner writing the pilot episode. The spinoff is set to premiere with a 10-episode season 1 on Netflix.
That '90s Show will have a tricky balancing act to pull off with using the appeal of the legacy cast members without letting them overshadow the new cast. Since so many of the That '70s Show cast went on to find success, their charisma and presence could overtake the reboot's mostly unknown ensemble. With That '90s Show's production underway, fans will have to wait and see if Valderrama or any of his other former cast members will appear, which hopefully won't undermine the new series from standing on its own.
Source: TVInsider