04 January 2006

Futurama to return?


In what could be only considered a late Christmas present, word has come from Variety that 20th Century Fox is in early discussions to bring back Futurama, the FOX animated show that ran from 1999 to 2003.

Like Family Guy, which was cancelled by FOX and then found a new life on DVD and The Cartoon Network so it was revived, the Matt Groening created series is seeing the same thing happening to it. Since its departure from FOX in 2003, the show has found a new life -and, more importantly - new fans, due to the DVD’s and repeated high-rated airings on CN (and to prove there is still life in those repeats, Comedy Central has stolen the show from CN and will begin airing them in 2008).

Despite winning three Emmy’s (including one for Best Animated Show in 2002), the show had a nomadic life on the network, with short seasons and late launches (the show ran five seasons, though technically only four were produced). With those long gaps between airings, the show never scored new fans beyond the ones who already adored the show.

In the meantime, the studio is interested in creating a “limited number” on new episodes, though at this early date, its too soon to know where they will air. Plus, they will have to negotiate with series voice stars Billy West (Fry), Katey Segal (Leela) and John DiMaggio (Bender) and the production team that produced the show.

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