Time to bust out the two-liter bottle of Shasta and your all-Rush mixtape because Futurama is back… again. Hulu has announced that it is bringing the long-running, on-again-off-again animated series back for another new run at greatness and that almost the entire original Futurama voice cast is confirmed to be coming back.
Hulu, alongside 20th Television Animation, has ordered a 20-episode new season of Futurama that is going into production this month and will premiere sometime in 2023. Returning voice actors are Billy West, Katey Sagal, Tress MacNeille, Maurice LaMarche, Lauren Tom, Phil LaMarr, and David Herman. John DiMaggio, who voiced Bender in the original series, is not yet confirmed to be reprising the role.
Both of the show’s creators, Matt Groening and David X. Cohen, were in top form with their stock press release quotes:
“I’m thrilled to have another chance to think about the future… or really anything other than the present,” said David X. Cohen.
“It’s a true honor to announce the triumphant return of Futurama one more time before we get canceled abruptly again,” commented Matt Groening.
Yes, the series is no stranger to cancellation. Though gaining a strong and passionate cult following in its initial run on Fox, the show was canceled in 2003 after four seasons. However, a series of DVD releases coupled with a growing fanbase from cable reruns prompted Cartoon Network to bring the show back, giving the show another three seasons until its second cancellation in 2013. That finale was actually a pretty good send-off for the show, but both creators always said there was more to do with it. Now they’ll get the chance.
“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 Craig Erwich, President, Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment.
