Futurama Cast Will Be Back

Less than a month ago, it was reported that Fox was seeking new actors to voice the characters on the returning animated sitcom “Futurama.” Now comes word that all of the original actors will be back, this time on their new home at Comedy Central on DISH.“Futurama” is an animated sci-fi sitcom that was created by Matt Groening (of “Simpsons” fame). The series follows the adventures of a former New York pizza boy after he is cryogenically frozen seconds after the start of the year 2000, and later thawed out on New Year's Eve 2999.

The series premiered on Fox in March 1999 and ran until August 2003 before production was stopped and the show continued in reruns for satellite and cable tv customers on Adult Swim and Cartoon Network. In December 2007, when the network’s contract expired, the show disappeared from the airwaves again.

“Futurama” came back in the form of four straight-to-DVD films (the last one having been released in January 2009). Recently, however, Comedy Central entered into an agreement with 20th Century Fox Television to syndicate the episodes and then air brand new episodes as well. However, in early July, a blow came to “Futurama” fans when Fox put out a casting call for all new actors to voice the roles on the show. Word on the street was that the original actors’ salary demands could not be met, and Fox would have to replace them.

Fans were devastated; first the great news that their show was coming back on the air, then the heartbreaking news that it would be sans the original cast. Many people wondered – what’s the point of even bringing the show back at all if you don’t have the original cast? Fox remained positive about the change, saying that they looked forward to finding new talent to bring the characters to life. Now there is good news again. Five members the original cast are now returning for the series’ reboot, thanks to a deal just sealed with 20th Century Fox TV.

Variety reported that Katey Sagal, Maurice LaMarche, Tress MacNeille, Billy West, and John DiMaggio will continue to provide their character voices for 26 new episodes of the animated Matt Groening sci-fi comedy, which will start airing on Comedy Central in 2010. In a joint statement issued tonight, Groening and co-producer David X. Cohen said: “We are thrilled to have our incredible cast back. The call has already gone out to the animators to put the mouths back on the characters." Now “Futurama” fans can rest easy and simply wait until their show is back on the air with brand new episodes.Comedy Central can be found on channel 107 on Dish Network.

By: Frank Bilotta

By: Frank R. Bilotta

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