Highlights
- Topher Grace left That '70s Show to pursue his dream role as Venom in SpiderMan, a character he idolized since childhood.
- Behind the scenes, Topher preferred to separate himself from the partying antics of his castmates, opting to play video games instead.
- Despite his departure and differences, Topher maintains a close relationship with his former co-stars and is open to a That '70s Show reunion in the future.
Topher Grace was the lead on That ‘70s Show – and when he left toward the end of its run, the show suffered from his departure greatly. Perhaps the show could have lasted some additional seasons had he stayed behind, however, that wasn’t meant to be.
Topher looks at his time on the show very fondly, as it allowed him to do whatever he wanted on screen after its run. He explained to Looper:
"It occurred to me that I was really lucky to have been on a sitcom for a lot of years. I realized... that I didn't really need a lot more money... I didn't care [about exposure or a big paycheck]. It's what I wanted to do with my life... I just want to work with people where I see their film and go: 'I will do whatever your next film is.' I don't have to sit there and decide if it's going to be good or not."
Although he speaks glowingly about the experience these days, were things really that smooth behind the scenes? As Topher revealed, he wasn’t always present for the antics once the cameras stopped rolling alongside the rest of his castmates. Let’s delve into what was going on behind the scenes of the show.
Updated, September 2023: Topher Grace was in the news in September 2023 - not for something he did, but rather for something he didn't do. That '70s Show costars Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis came under intense scrutiny for their controversial decision to submit letters of support to fellow costar Danny Masterson in the course of his sentencing.
As Ashton and Mila apologized in a social media video, Topher Grace remained on Twitter's list of trending topics. Topher was praised in one of many viral tweets for continuing to keep his distance from Danny, despite being perceived as "stuck up" when the show aired.
Why Topher Left That '70s Show In The First Place
It tends to be one of the most frequently asked questions after the show's conclusion – why did Topher leave? It didn’t have anything to do with problems behind the scenes, instead, Grace got the chance of a lifetime to play the role of Venom in SpiderMan, a character he still can't believe he landed;
“I was a huge fan of the character of Venom when I was a kid when Todd McFarlane brought him into the comic. I was a huge fan of it. And I was surprised and a little bit like 'Huh?' when they wanted me to play it. So when I look at it now, at the movie that's coming out, I go 'That's the guy.' In terms of how I think the guy should be played and who should play it.”
His departure from the show noticeably impacted its reception, particularly in terms of fan interest. Things were also different when the cameras stopped rolling, as Topher wasn't known for partying.
Topher Did His Own Thing While The Rest Of The Cast Had Fun
When negative press began to emerge around his former castmate Danny Masterson, Topher was asked about the rumors and what he saw on the set. His answer was surprising, as Topher admitted he'd typically isolate himself and hang back while the cast partied. He described his off-screen presence as "boring" in an interview with Consequence Of Sound:
“You know, I hesitate to say that I never saw any of that behavior because I feel like it sounds like I’m defending [Masterson] ... but the truth is I never saw any of that stuff. I was, of that cast, the most boring. So when it came to going out after the show and partying, I just was boring.”
Topher preferred to just hang around and play video games, while most of the others would enjoy a day at the bar after a day of shooting on the set of the show.
Nonetheless, Topher Wouldn't Say No To A That '70s Show Reunion
In spite of how he left That '70s Show, Topher managed to stay close to his former co-stars – but some fans felt that Topher should have received an invitation to Ashton and Mila's wedding. Topher says things are good, and that the group still keeps in contact through a group chat. As recently as 2019, Topher told Us Weekly that he’d be open to exploring a possible reunion in the future:
“I would be the first one there. I’m down to do it ... I just think the good thing about that show is everyone had so much success in lots of different ways that I think it would be hard to bring the group together ... But I would love to do it.”
With that in mind, it's possible we might see the most of the cast back together to revisit That '70s Show – without Danny Masterson's Hyde. In a time of reunions and reboots on television, it's not hard to picture That '70s Show among them, especially in terms of fan interest. Let's hope they strike up some type of deal, at least for a few episodes!