Exclusive Interview: Reyn Doi Actor Talks That ’90s Show, Working with the Original Cast, and More

Reyn Doi is a rising young storyteller who became a household name with his breakout performance in Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar. He stole the hearts of audiences and cast members like Kristen Wiig with his undeniable presence and comedic timing.

This year, he stars as one of the leads in Netflix’s That ’90s Show, a reboot of the beloved That ’70s Show. The must-see new comedy (and #1 show on Netflix right now) follows Leia Forman, daughter of Eric and Donna, as she visits her grandparents for the summer. It’s there she bonds with a new generation of Point Place kids under the watchful eye of Kitty and the stern glare of Red.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Reyn about That ’90s Show, collaborating with the original cast, and more!

PC: You’re one of the stars of That ’90s Show. Tell us about your character and what drew you to this project.
Reyn: My character’s name is Ozzie. He is very insightful and smart. He puts on a tough face as he doesn’t like to show too much emotion, but there are times when his emotions come out and it becomes a very sweet moment. Ozzie can also be very judgemental and opinionated. He is not afraid to voice what he’s feeling, and he’s very honest.

When I first read the script, I sort of knew I would be a fit and a great match for the role of Ozzie. Even my managers felt the same way when they read the character description. I auditioned and had a meeting with casting and later was asked to join a callback with the producers. It was super funny because I was filming another Netflix film at the time called The Outlaws and I was in Atlanta. We were staying in a hotel, so I did the Zoom callback in the hotel bathroom and used an ice bucket to elevate the camera to my face. When I joined the call, I told the producers where I was and they were shocked and laughing! The producers were so kind and interested in me, and I felt super happy with the good vibes. I was then asked to do a chemistry read with Ashley (Gwen), and we had such great chemistry. I then found out I booked the job, and without a doubt, I agreed!

PC: How familiar were you with the original series before hopping into this project? What has it been like getting to collaborate with some of the original cast?
Reyn: Before booking the role, I didn’t know about the original show. I was then told it was a spinoff/reboot of a very iconic, popular show called That ’70s Show. I bought around five seasons to watch, and I could point out the similarities between the original and our show. For example, the 360s we film—it’s no different!

Getting to work with the original cast has been an absolute blast! I am so grateful and appreciative that they decided to come back to make guest appearances because working with them was a dream. All of them have great chemistry with each other, and you can tell they just love each other like family. It was fun to be able to watch them film scenes with each other because you see how talented they are and the amazing comedic timing they all have. I got to learn from watching them. They also talked to all of us and gave really good advice. Wilmer [Valderrama] told me to always consider rehearsals an important time because it’s the only time you have to play around with the material before showing the scenes to network and producers. They could change the script/scene completely if you don’t land the joke. What he said really stuck with me, and they also told really interesting stories about their time on set together. Topher was super nice and even had lunch with all of the kids!

PC: There’s such great chemistry that comes off the screen between you and the rest of the cast. How were you able to build that bond?
Reyn: Working on the script for a week before actually filming the pilot helped a lot because we got to know a lot about each other. The producers made time for us to interact and connect with each other. One of the most important things is having great chemistry, and having that within our cast is an absolute blessing. It makes filming easier because of how we feed off of each other. We goof around a lot too. One time Mace [Jay] climbed the walls in the hallway and reached all the way to the top, and the picture was sent to all of us and all I kept wondering was how he had reached the ceiling! I am so lucky to be able to have such a fabulous cast to work with.

PC: You’re no stranger to comedy. What is it about this particular genre that excites you as a storyteller?
Reyn: I have always loved working on comedies, and making people laugh brings me so much joy. I think I realized my love for comedies when filming Barb and Star go to Vista Del Mar with Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo. I got so many compliments while filming the movie about how I had such great comedic timing and how funny I was in scenes. When filming That ’90s Show we were lucky to have a live audience every Friday night. As an actor filming with a live studio audience, you can feed off the audience’s laughter and it helps your scenes tremendously. I am so extremely thankful for all the audience members that came from #1 to #10. It’s also super fun to be able to interact with the audience and talk with them in between scenes. I would quiz some of them about myself or my character.

PC: You’ve worked across television and film. How do the two mediums differ? Does that change your approach to the character?
Reyn: When preparing for this show, I would tell myself that it’s okay to go to different levels at times but not always and that it’s good to have different levels when filming. Also, I work with five other kids, so there’s a balance with that as well because we work together as a team and it’s not just one person.

PC: You’ve worked across television and film. How do the two mediums differ? Does that change your approach to the character?
Reyn: With movies, I think it’s important not to push the funny because that makes it not as natural. Working on this show with our amazing director Gail Mancuso helped me understand more about comedy and how to prepare for it.

PC: When the series drops in January, is there a particular scene or episode that you’re most excited for audiences to see?
Reyn: All the episodes are so well written and the finished product is amazing, so I am excited for all the episodes to come out as each one is very special. However, the episode that I had the most scenes in was Episode 5.

PC: You’re such a dynamic storyteller. As you look ahead to the next five to ten years, do you have a dream role you’d like to bring to life?
Reyn: I would like to do more dramas and mysteries because it would be super fun to dive into that genre. I will forever love comedy and making people laugh, but working in different genres will help me grow as an actor, so I would love that. However, I am super happy with this project and can’t wait for everyone to see it!

To keep up with Reyn, follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Watch That ’90s Show on Netflix today.

Photo Credit: Patrick Wymore/Netflix