If you’re a fan of Futurama — you know, Matt Groening’s other super successful animated sitcom — then you will be delighted by the news that the space-age series is getting a revival, having been picked up for a 20-episode run on US streaming service Hulu.
In even better news, the original cast you know and love will return for the new series including Billy West (Fry) and Katey Sagal (Leela) along with ensemble players who voiced multiple characters Tress MacNeille, Maurice LaMarche, Lauren Tom, Phil LaMarr and David Herman. Fingers crossed that John DiMaggio, who voiced the sass-giving robot Bender, will also return as it’s been reported that he is still in the process of closing his deal.
The beloved animated series, tells the story of pizza delivery guy Fry who accidentally freezes himself in 1999 and wakes up a thousand years later. During its original run, Futurama won six Emmy Awards including two for outstanding animated program.
Said series creator Groening, in a statement, “It’s a true honour to announce the triumphant return of Futurama one more time before we get cancelled abruptly again.”
Groening was referring to the fact that the series was cancelled by the FOX Network in 2003 after multiple scheduling changes that Groening said never really allowed the show the best chance of success.
Futurama was then picked up by Comedy Central in 2010 for a further four seasons before wrapping in late 2013 after seven seasons and a total of 140 episodes across the two different networks.
The return of Futurama further highlights the popularity and demand for adult animations with series such as Beavis & Butt-head and The Ren & Stimpy Show also in the process of being revived. There have also been whispers that King of the Hill could be making a comeback, although that is yet to be officially confirmed.
Meanwhile, Groening’s most well-known work, The Simpsons, is still going strong, having released its 33rd season toward the end of 2021, with the 34th season already greenlit.
Groening is also the creator and executive producer of Disenchantment on Netflix, which just released its fourth season on the streamer.
While the new Futurama is being made by Hulu, which is not available in Australia, it’s likely the series will be available on Disney+ locally once it premieres.
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