'Triumphant return of futurama': Matt Groening on the unexpected revival of the cult animated series

"I'm thrilled to have another chance to think about the future", said David X. Cohen, co-creator of the cult animated series, Futurama. Just when we thought we had traveled our last with the Planet Express crew, Hulu reopens the portal to the 31st century for another round of wild rides. After intense negotiations, it's finally confirmed: Futurama is back with a brand new season, set to premiere in July 2023.

Back from the Future

Futurama's "resurrection" is becoming somewhat of a tradition. First airing on Fox from 1999-2003, it was axed midway through Season 4, only to be revived in 2007 with four direct-to-DVD movies, thanks to its successful run on Comedy Central. Now, marking its third comeback, this time on Hulu, the animated phenomenon is ready to enthral us again. "It’s a true honor to announce the triumphant return of Futurama one more time before we get canceled abruptly again," quipped Matt Groening, its co-creator.

As reported by Deadline, the majority of the original voice cast will return for this 20-episode new season. We will hear the familiar voices of Billy West (Fry), Katey Sagal (Leela), and others, although the role of Bender, the foul-mouthed robot, is currently being recast as John DiMaggio's negotiations hit an impasse.

Planet Express Set to Fly Again

"What I love about animation is that it’s possible for a successful show to take a pause and then resume years later," commented Marci Proietto, Head of 20th Television Animation. And that's exactly what has happened with Futurama. Over its seven seasons spanning two decades, the show has produced 140 original episodes and won numerous awards, including six Emmy Awards and seven Annie Awards.

"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, Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment. The streamer seems keen to build up its original and acquired adult animation content roster, and Futurama's new season will undoubtedly add a gem to its collection.

While the Planet Express crew's adventures continue, one member's return remains uncertain. John DiMaggio, the voice behind Bender, feels the offer was not competitive enough given the success and recognition of the original series. 

So, grab your popplers, prepare your slurm cans, and brace yourselves as Fry, Leela, and potentially Bender, return for more out-of-this-world antics. Here's to hoping for a glorious future filled with more Futurama episodes, more laughter, and of course, more of our favorite one-eyed captain, pizza delivery boy, and potentially, the foul-mouthed robot. After all, the future or rather, the Futurama future is always worth the wait!

(Several parts of the text in this article, including the title, were generated with the help of an AI tool.)