Futurama revived at Hulu

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https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/fut...lu-1235176203/

Matt Groening and David X. Cohen are working on a second revival of their classic adult animated sci-fi comedy series with nearly the entire original cast. Hulu has picked up 20 new episodes of Futurama, which originally ran on Fox for five seasons between 1999 and 2003 and on Comedy Central for two seasons between 2010 and 2013. Original series cast members Billy West, Katey Sagal, Tress MacNeille, Maurice LaMarche, Lauren Tom, Phil LaMarr and David Herman are on board for the revival. John DiMaggio, who voiced Bender and several minor characters, is not currently attached. According to Variety, based on a source, "the producers are hopeful DiMaggio will return. Should that not happen, Bender will be recast." Production is scheduled to begin this month with the new episodes expected to roll out in 2023. “I’m thrilled to have another chance to think about the future… or really anything other than the present,” said Cohen, who developed Futurama with Groening, the show's creator. “It’s a true honor to announce the triumphant return of ‘Futurama’ one more time before we get canceled abruptly again,” added Groening. Craig Erwich, president of Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment, said of reviving Futurama: “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.”

John DiMaggio retweets Futurama fans concerned his Bender role will be recast in Hulu revival

In reporting on Futurama's Hulu reboot, Variety noted that DiMaggio was the only main cast member not attached and that "producers are hopeful DiMaggio will return. Should that not happen, Bender will be recast." In the 24 hours since the Futurama revival announcement, "DiMaggio has used social media to champion the many fans who are upset over his potential recasting in the reboot," reports Variety, including retweeting Futurama fans threatening to boycott the reboot. “Hulu should just pay DiMaggio, love Futurama but Bender is the face of the show," one fan wrote in a tweet that DiMaggio retweeted. While DiMaggio hasn't commented on contract negotiations, he did tweet the following message to fans hours after the reboot’s announcement: “Thanks for the concern and the props, everyone. I really appreciate it. Don’t worry, I’ll keep you posted, but until then… CHEESE IT!”

Could Hulu's Futurama "Bendergate" contract negotiation controversy with John DiMaggio change animation for the better?

As the Futurama revival has made it clear it intends to proceed with or without DiMaggio, fans of the animated comedy are making it clear that they won't accept anybody else voicing Bender. "In another era, replacing one voice actor with another would be uncontroversial," says Miles Klee. "There’s even a joke in Futurama creator Matt Groening’s better-known cartoon, The Simpsons, about underpaying performers and swapping them out whenever it’s convenient. In 2022, however, there’s a growing sense among audiences that the work these actors do — breathing life into some of the most beloved characters on TV — has never been valued as it should. Before Hulu could take a victory lap on the acquisition, viewers had taken to social media to protest the very notion of a new Bender, with some promising to boycott unless DiMaggio got an acceptable contract for his return. DiMaggio welcomed their support on Twitter and shared statements of solidarity from others in Hollywood, including comedian and impressionist James Adomian, who said that he had dismissed an audition notice for the part. The message has been loud and clear: There is no Futurama without Bender, and Bender is DiMaggio, so the negotiations had better continue." Klee explains why Futurama fans wouldn't accept a recasting: "Bender is the glue, the X factor, a machine that can do anything but mainly indulges his many human vices. DiMaggio voices him as a sloppy, ribald, overconfident drunk, and beat out 200 or 300 other actors for the gig, he recalled in 2010. He’s quite literally one of a kind."

ALSO:

• A Futurama revival feels odd because it already had the "rare perfect ending": "The lack of (John) DiMaggio is enough of a reason to side-eye this project. But during the age of endless television, this revival feels like a B+ in-series joke," says Kayla Cobb. "We really need to ask ourselves: do we need more Futurama? Honestly, think about it. The last time Futurama was given limitless runtime and looser ratings, we got four so-so movies. All Futurama is good Futurama, but no one can claim Bender’s Big Score, The Beast with a Billion Backs, Bender’s Game, and Into the Wild Green Yonder were the series’ best work. Eventually, the sci-fi comedy straightened itself out with the Comedy Central revival and gave us such classics as 'The Late Phillip J. Fry' and the truly brilliant 'The Prisoner of Benda.' But the success of the Comedy Central revival has left us with a completely different problem in 2022."
• Why negotiations hit a standstill with John DiMaggio: Entertainment Weekly's Nick Romano reports that Hulu and 20th Television Animation pursued negotiations with Billy West, Katey Sagal and DiMaggio at the same time last year. "West and Sagal accepted," reports Romano. "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. 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."

John DiMaggio speaks out on his Futurama contract negotiations: "It's about self-respect"

In a statement posted to Twitter Tuesday evening, the Bender actor explained why he hasn't signed on for Hulu's recently announced revival. DiMaggio said he believed the entire cast should be paid more for the Hulu series, while decrying a "far too corporate" industry that "takes advantage of artist's time & talent." “I’ve been thinking about everything that’s been going on these past months and just to be clear, I don’t think that only I deserve to be paid more. I think the entire cast does,” DiMaggio wrote in his statement. “Negotiations are a natural part of working in show business. Everyone has a different strategy & different boundaries. Their 'price.' Some accept offers, some hold their ground. Bender is part of my soul and nothing about this is meant to be disrespectful to the fans or my Futurama family. It’s about self-respect. And honestly, (it’s about) being tired of an industry that’s become far too corporate and takes advantage of artists’ time and talent… I wish I could give you every detail so you would understand, but it’s not my place. Thanks again for the love everyone. Still hoping for the best.”