That ’90s Show season 2 filming updates and more

We have some news about That ’90s Show to share with fans of the series. Production was going to get started on season 2 earlier this year, but because of the strikes, filming ended up delayed. Now that both strikes have been resolved, Netflix finally got the That ’70s Show sequel series up and running for a production start in December 2023 and now there's a confirmed release window.

For those who might have missed the first season upon its release in January 2023, That ’90s Show is a spinoff to That ’70s Show. It follows Eric and Donna’s teenage daughter Leia as she spends the summer in Point Place with her grandparents. There, she bonds with a group of teenagers her age and has the best summer of her life.

Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp reprise their roles as Red and Kitty Forman in the teen series. Additionally, Callie Haverda plays protagonist Leia Forman, and her friend group is made up of Ashley Aufderheide (Gwen), Maxwell Acee Donovan (Nate), Sam Morelos (Nikki), Reyn Doi (Ozzie), and Mace Coronel (Jay).

We’re updating this story as we learn more information. The latest update was published on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. 

That ’90s Show season 2 starts filming in December 2023

One day after the SAG-AFTRA strike resolved on Nov. 8, 1iota’s website revealed three new filming dates for the second season of the hit Netflix sitcom. According to 1iota, season 2 has three tapings scheduled for Dec. 1, Dec. 8, and Dec. 15. The tapings take place on Fridays at 4 p.m. PT in Los Angeles. Fans can request tickets to attend the tapings on the 1iota website.

Currently, those are the only four tapings listed on the website, though more are likely to be added once the schedules are sorted for the holidays. Following the December episodes, the next tapings of the 13 remaining episodes of season 2 will likely continue in January 2024 through the spring. We’ll let fans know once the rest of the dates are announced.

Originally, it looked like filming would begin in May 2023, as we mentioned in our original story. Thanks to our favorite TV dad (and now grandpa!) Red Forman, we know that season 2 was scheduled to filming: May 2023. On April 5, Kurtwood Smith tweeted that filming was “almost ready” and shared a link for fans to join the live audience.

On 1iota, the filming dates for season 2 of That ’90s Show began in May 2023 and ended in September 2023. Production on the second season would have taken place across five months, which mirrors the six-month filming sprint for the first season. In a new interview with Contents Magazine, star Callie Haverda expressed her excitement for filming season 2 this spring and summer!

These were the original 16 filming dates for season 2: May 5, May 12, May 26, June 2, June 9, June 23, June 30, July 14, July 21, July 28, Aug. 18, Aug. 25, Sept. 1, Sept. 15, Sept. 22, and Sept. 29.

The second season will be released in summer 2024

On Feb. 1, Netflix unveiled its full slate of movies and shows for 2024 so far, confirming that a number of our favorite shows will be returning this year. Thankfully, we not only received confirmation that That '90s Show season 2 will be back in 2024, but Netflix teased that the season will drop in the summer. It's super fitting since the series takes place in the summer months.

With season 2 originally scheduled to begin filming through the summer and into the fall of 2023, we were hoping that we could see That ’90s Show return by the end of 2023. Netflix will surely break the season into two parts, though the streamer hasn’t confirmed scheduling plans beyond giving season 2 a summer 2024 release window.

Filming began in December 2023 and will likely last for about five months, bringing us to about April or May 2024. Of course, the release date will depend on whether Netflix opts to divide the season into two eight-episode batches or if they will release the season all at once. All 16 episodes at once would leave fans waiting longer for new episodes accounting for post-production.

Now that production kicked off in December 2023, we will be seeing That ’90s Show season 2, or at least half of it, on Netflix in summer 2024. If Netflix does release season 2 in two parts, expect the second half before the end of the year, likely sometime in fall 2024 (though Netflix could opt for an early 2025 drop, too). We’ll share more information as it’s available.

Release Prediction: July 2024

The second season was delayed because of the strikes

According to a report from What’s on Netflix in May 2023, That ’90s Show season 2 was officially delayed. Production was supposed to start during the month of May and continue through the summer. The series is filmed with a live audience, and that’s how it was revealed that production was delayed. The site that gives away tickets for That ’90s Show tapings, 1iota, revealed the show had been delayed until the end of the writers’ strike.

On top of the writers’ strike, which ended in late September 2023, the SAG-AFTRA actors’ strike continued in tandem until its resolution on Nov. 8. Production on the second season didn't begin until both strikes resolved with a fair deal for both the actors’ and writers’ guilds.

In August 2023, That ’90s Show star Callie Haverda posted a series of photos with cast members Sam Morelos and Maxwell Acee Donovan from the SAG-AFTRA picket lines in Los Angeles. The young cast members even met Academy Award-nominated actress and Oppenheimer star Florence Pugh on the picket lines. Perhaps she could make a cameo in season 2? We can dream!

Season 2 has been renewed for 16 episodes

On Feb. 3, less than one month after the release of the new comedy series, Netflix announced that That ’90s Show had been renewed for a second season! The first season contained 10 episodes, but Netflix expanded the season 2 order to 16 episodes, which suggests the season could be released in eight-episode batches. But we’ll have to wait and see!

The first month of the show’s release is very important. Netflix typically tallies up the viewing hours in the first month, and if it’s high enough to their standards, the streamer might just go ahead and renew. But other factors at play in Netflix’s renewal process are production costs and critical acclaim. Fortunately, That ’90s Show isn’t an expensive show to make, so we shouldn’t have to worry about that. However, a positive critical response would be helpful.

Still, the amount of viewing hours the show garners in its first month on the streamer will most likely be the deciding factor in whether Netflix renews or cancels the teen series. It’s also important to mention that the first season must be watched from beginning to end as Netflix keeps an eye on completion. This means you must watch all episodes of your favorite shows in order for it to count. Many shows have been canceled because of low completion rates. Keep this in mind for season 2!

Here’s who Netflix confirmed will be back in the main cast for the second season:

• Kurtwood Smith as Red Forman
• Debra Jo Rupp as Kitty Forman
• Callie Haverda as Leia Forman
• Ashley Aufderheide as Gwen
• Mace Coronel as Jay Kelso
• Maxwell Acee Donovan as Nate
• Reyn Doi as Ozzie
• Sam Morelos as Nikki
• Andrea Anders as Sherri

What could happen next for Leia in season 2?

Fortunately, we don’t have to wonder about what could possibly happen in a second season because of how things left off in the first season. Now we officially know Leia will be back in Point Place for another summer adventure in That ’90s Show season 2!

In the first season’s finale, Leia headed back to Chicago with her mom for the school year, after ending up in a confusing love triangle between Jay and Nate. The problem? Nate is dating her friend Nikki, and they’re keeping their kiss from everyone but Gwen. What will Leia come back to in summer 1996? It’s going to be a complicated summer for these teens!

We’ll keep you updated on the show’s renewal status, so stay tuned to Netflix Life!

FanSided Entertainment staff contributed to this report.