Futurama,one of the most beloved adult animated series of all time, is set to return on Hulu. The streaming platform has picked up the series for 20 episodes, with the return of creators Matt Groening and David X. Cohen, lead actors Billy West and Katey Segal, and animation by Rough Draft Studios.
This will mark the fourth run ofFuturama, following an original five seasons on Fox, a run of four animated direct-to-video movies, and another four seasons on Comedy Central. The series was originally intended as a companion to Groening’s masterpieceThe Simpsons, but it quickly found a voice and audience entirely its own. With its great mix of sci-fi concepts, irreverent humor, and genuine pathos between its characters,Futurama’s fanbase has only grown with age.
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Craig Erwich, President of Hulu Originals, made a statement about the revival. “When presented with the opportunity to bring fans and viewers new episodes ofFuturama, we couldn’t wait to dive in,” he said. Erwich has a lot of hope for the new episodes, adding, “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.”
It’s also up in the air if famed voice actor John DiMaggio will return, and if he doesn’t, a replacementfor his iconic character Benderwould be very difficult to find. At this time, DiMaggio is reportedly finalizing a deal, but it has not closed. If done wrong, the new episodes ofFuturamacould be as tired and forgettable as any recent episode ofThe Simpsons.
And the move to Hulu makes sense, as the platform is in many ways the perfect platform for adult animation. They have every episode of other classics likeFamily GuyandBob’s Burgers, as well asoriginal content likeSolar Oppositesand theAnimaniacsrevival. If done right, this could turn out a winning success for all parties involved. But of course, some fans are skeptical about its chances. Since the series already had a number of successful runs, it’s uncertain what could be gained from another
Will the return of Planet Express be a justified revisit? Or will fans be left wishing they quit while ahead? It’s a gamble for sure, but asall fans have learned fromFuturama, robots love gambling.
TheFuturamarevival is set to start development this month, aiming for a 2023 premiere.
