On the small screen, Matt Groening has had a wealth of achievements. The Simpsons is his pride and joy, but the creator has had success with other projects. Perhaps his most notable project outside of Springfield's favorite family has been Futurama.
Futurama was a genuinely great show in its own right. The show featured heartbreaking episodes, heartwarming episodes, and even had plenty of Easter eggs for The Simpsons. While never a juggernaut, the series had a loyal audience, and it has had some wild peaks and valleys through the years.
Recently, a comeback for the series was announced, and while this is great, fans are skeptical due to a contractual dispute with a key voice actor. Let's take a look at what's going on.
'Futurama' Is A Classic Series
In 1999, Futurama made its debut on the small screen looking to give fans a fresh animated series to enjoy. Matt Groening, the mastermind behind The Simpsons, was spearheading this project, and while it never reached the same level as The Simpsons, it still found a loyal audience.
For 4 seasons and over 70 episodes, Futurama was holding it down on television. It might not have been a ratings powerhouse, but fans still enjoyed what it was bringing to the table each week. It was a nice contrast from The Simpsons, but the show's original run was not destined to last long.
After its initial cancellation, Futurama would be off the air for several years before making a return for season 5 in 2008. The series would run through a seventh season before getting the axe again. It delivered 140 episodes for the fans, and while people were sad to see it go again, they were at least happy with the fact that the show had a lengthy return.
Recently, longtime fans were stunned to learn that the lovable show was making a comeback to the small screen.
'Futurama' Is Making A Comeback
2022 has been off to a great start for television audiences, and the announcement of new Futurama episodes coming to Hulu was a big deal.
In 2020, Hulu pulled off a similar feat when it brought Animaniacs back from the dead, and so far, it has been a success. It's had two successful seasons, and a third season is already confirmed to be on the way.
Both sides of this deal are eager to work together and to see how things shape up during production.
"When presented with the opportunity to bring fans and viewers new episodes of 'Futurama,' we couldn’t wait to dive in. 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," said president of Hulu Originals, Craig Erwich.
Fans are incredibly excited that the show is coming back with many important pieces in place, but a key member of the voice cast has yet to agree to a new contract.
John DiMaggio Has Not Agreed To Return
John DiMaggio, who voiced Bender on the series, is currently at a standstill with the folks making Futurama.
"According to sources, an offer was extended to all three actors. West and Sagal accepted. DiMaggio's team did not, seeing it as a lowball and not competitive to the market or the legacy of Futurama. One source suggests the favored nations process fell apart with West and Sagal taking the offer without consulting DiMaggio. Another source refutes that notion. DiMaggio's side counter-offered with more competitive quotes, but some sources suggest conversations with the studio ended in November and have not progressed since," EW reported.
This came as a major blow to fans, as Bender is perhaps the most iconic character to emerge from the show. DiMaggio helped make the character a force on the small screen, and failure to get him on board could be disastrous for the series.
According to EW, "A search for a replacement voice actor is still ongoing, while the offer for DiMaggio to return remains on the table for the time being, EW has learned. The studio doesn't want to pay DiMaggio more than West and Sagal, which contributes to the standstill."
Only time will tell if things are made right between the two sides, but clearly, neither is willing to budge. It would be a major loss for the show and for the fans, who have been waiting years for the show to come back to the small screen.
