‘That ’90s Show’ Gives Update on Topher Grace’s Character and Possible Return ArticlePure

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

Topher Grace doesn’t seem to be returning to the Formans’ basement in the near future.

Grace, who starred as Eric Forman in That ‘70s Show, made his That ‘90s Show debut 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 of Star Wars. Donna (Laura Prepron) reveals to her and Eric’s daughter that he’s been offered a life-changing job. 

“He’s on his way to Skywalker Ranch to shadow George Lucas and write a book about the making of the new Star Wars movies,” Donna says in the seventh episode of Part 3. “It happened really fast. He got the call, packed his bag and said goodbye to me in Wookiee.”

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.

Grace joined original cast members Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher in 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 June that there isn’t enough time in his busy schedule to return to That ‘90s Show. “We’re pushing 20 episodes a season [on NCIS], but at the same time, it’s the kids’ jobs,” he added, referring to the That ’90s Show newcomers.

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

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

More recently, in early July, after Part 2 dropped, the series’ showrunner Gregg Mettler told TVLine that they “always hope to have everybody back,” but he noted that isn’t always feasible.

“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 from That ’70s Show in 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 in That ’70s Show people is a recipe that works for us.”

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Seasons 1 and 2 of That ‘90s Show are available to stream on Netflix.