Hulu Orders a Futurama Revival With Original Cast Members Returning
The Planet Express team is reuniting for another round animated hijinks. Variety brings word that Hulu has ordered a new season of Futurama consisting of 20 episodes. Additionally, most of the show’s original voice actors are coming back to reprise their roles.
Billy West (Fry/Professor Farnsworth/Zoidberg), Katey Sagal (Leela), Tress MacNeille (Mom), Maurice LaMarche (Kif Kroker), Lauren Tom (Amy), Phil LaMarr (Hermes) and David Herman (Scruffy) are all returning for this latest iteration of the series. However, it seems the only major holdout is John DiMaggio, who voiced Bender in all previous episodes. The producers are reportedly still “hopeful” that DiMaggio will eventually sign on. But they intend to recast his character if an agreement can’t be reached.
Futurama premiered on Fox in 1999 and introduced viewers to Matt Groening and David X. Cohen’s vision of the 31st century. The series ended its original four-season run in 2003. But in 2008, Comedy Central revived the show by re-cutting four direct-to-DVD movies into a proper fifth season. The network later produced two more seasons of the series before ending it again in 2013.
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“When presented with the opportunity to bring fans and viewers new episodes of Futurama, we couldn’t wait to dive in,” said Craig Erwich, president of Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment. “This iconic series helped blaze the trail for the success of adult animation since its initial launch and we look forward to Matt & David continuing to pave the way and further establishing Hulu as the premiere destination for fans of the genre.”
Cohen and Groening also issued their own statements about the series’ return:
“I’m thrilled to have another chance to think about the future… or really anything other than the present,” joked Cohen.
“It’s a true honor to announce the triumphant return of Futurama one more time before we get canceled abruptly again,” added Groening.
Production on the Futurama revival will start this month. Hulu is hoping to debut the new episodes in 2023.
Are you excited to hear that Futurama is making a comeback? Let us know in the comment section below!
Recommended Reading: Futurama-O-Rama
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