From the Toronto Star:
Los Angeles, Calif.-The Star has learned exclusively that the voice cast of Futurama has just signed a new contract with Fox after weeks of intense salary negotiations.
As late as last week, the network was threatening to replace the original voices of Matt Groening's cult-hit cartoon, to the point of actually announcing a casting call for voice actors to replace them.
The compromise agreement, with the studio paying more and the actors accepting less, comes after the announcement of a 26-episode pick-up here by Comedy Central. Futurama also airs internationally in syndication, has produced four bestselling straight-to-DVD movies (later cut into episodes) and an upcoming feature film.
Look, I don't know why the Toronto Star would have this news, but I've never heard them to just make shit up like many of the British "papers" do. So... FUCK AND YES. THANK YOU, SWEET ZOMBIE JESUS. And thanks to John S. for the amazing tip.
Comments
Gareth said:
Good news, everyone!
I've invented a device that makes you speak and/or think in my voice as you read this!
Which is good, because now you won't have to hear it in any other voice. Woohoohoohooohooo...
Posted 07/31/2009 at 04:50:27 PM
The Flash III said:
Woo hoo! Now Fox does not have to kiss my shiny metal ass.
Posted 07/31/2009 at 04:51:19 PM
Hugh Guiney said:
Family Guy? Check. Futurama? Check.
Now we just need to revive Arrested Development.
Posted 07/31/2009 at 05:21:26 PM
EVula said:
Quixotico: whoa whoa whoa, no need to jump to extreme measures. I see no reason why the skullfucking should be called off; there's still a ridiculous number of reasons for it (such as the original cancellation, or Firefly's axing).
Obviously, the execs had a "discussion" with the Hypnotoad.
Posted 07/31/2009 at 05:36:16 PM
Gleeman said:
I think I just came...thank you Fox for not being your usual douche bag selves!
Posted 07/31/2009 at 05:44:50 PM
Nick said:
I agree.
Let the skullfucking commence!
Space: Above and Beyond demands vengeance for its short life!
Posted 07/31/2009 at 05:44:58 PM
Chang's arm said:
Let's forget how over-the-top with hate we were a couple of weeks ago when we knew this would probably still be the conclusion!!! Yeah!!!!
Posted 07/31/2009 at 05:48:22 PM
demoncat said:
guess this shows to fox how good futurama is for them to actully back down and come to a deal to keep the voices that plus someone proably got the execs to see how much money they would lose by getting rid of a key part that made the show work in the first place
Posted 07/31/2009 at 06:02:35 PM
Kenshiro said:
We can still hate the fox execs. It's not like they gave up and gave the cast everything they wanted. This was still a premeditated tactic to chisel the cast for money.
Posted 07/31/2009 at 06:08:03 PM
mark r said:
Good news everyone! - You just participated in a huge publicity stunt! Some marketing guy at Fox just got a huge bonus for getting every Futurama fan with internet access excited about the new episodes - for free!
Posted 07/31/2009 at 06:18:50 PM
RustyCrowe said:
Things were bad, but now they're good...forever!
Posted 07/31/2009 at 06:19:33 PM
Dragonzigg said:
Clearly all-powerful Atheismo came through for us on this one. Yay!
Posted 07/31/2009 at 06:42:24 PM
NeoXorn said:
Hugh Guiney is right: Arrested Development should be resurrected next.
This IS good news!
Posted 07/31/2009 at 06:59:35 PM
Cosplay Diary said:
FOX didn't want legions of fans overloading the company's servers with hate mail.
Posted 07/31/2009 at 07:17:16 PM
ZeroCorpse said:
Now, of course, the inevitable will follow:
1. FOX execs will ask them to "tone down" the intelligent, geek-oriented science/science fiction jokes.
2. FOX will pre-empt it with sports and specials, reschedule frequently, and basically make it hard for fans to catch it when it airs.
3. FOX will cancel it, citing low ratings and poor reviews from focus groups.
Posted 07/31/2009 at 07:24:02 PM
Tristriam said:
ALL PRAISE THE SPACE POPE! FOR HE HATH HEARD OUT PRAYERS!
Posted 07/31/2009 at 07:31:02 PM
Yahaboobay said:
Sweet. that part of me that had died inside just re-animated. I have a 1/16th zombie heart now!
Posted 07/31/2009 at 07:32:35 PM
JeffB said:
And the Toronto Star picked it up first... weird...
Posted 07/31/2009 at 08:14:07 PM
Anonymous said:
umm, Fox has nothing to do with this anymore - FUTURAMA is going back on Comedy Central, folks. 20th is the studio, not the network.
Posted 07/31/2009 at 08:45:58 PM
Jayson said:
While this is certainly good news, Fox exec's are still assholes. Its one thing to hold on going negotiations when it comes to contracts, thats just the nature of the business. But they crossed the line when they were threatening to replace the cast before the negotiations were even started or finished.
Posted 07/31/2009 at 09:16:44 PM
Snoodle said:
That's fantastic news! I can't help but think the absolute shitstorm that ensued after they initially announced the replacements is probably the only reason why it's happening though. If it was a strategic move, they would (should...) have announced it at SDCC. But then again they don't have much in the way of braincells, so.
And now we just face the problems ZeroCorpse is talking about up there. I'd say still go for the skullfucking, for all the shows they've cancelled over the years and for even considering the recast, I'd say the network still deserves it.
Posted 07/31/2009 at 10:09:52 PM
Matt said:
So wait, what you're saying is that Fox did something sensible?
What sorcery is this?
Posted 07/31/2009 at 10:22:08 PM
Samjoe said:
Good News Everyone. I can watch the Simpsons again.
Don't know what happened, but this is good.
Still hate Family Guy though.
Posted 07/31/2009 at 10:58:04 PM
RustyCrowe said:
Now will we not hafta go through BOX preempting it like they did with King of the Hill or will it be on Comedy Central were we will not hafta worry about sports or Seth Macfarlanes crap?
Posted 08/01/2009 at 12:42:53 AM
Daniel said:
Now Fox just needs to give the green light for a new Firefly series... PLEASE?
Posted 08/01/2009 at 04:40:48 AM
Hopman said:
I'm happy. Let's fire up the dark matter egines and set the owl traps!
FUTURAMA WILL NOT DIE!!!!!!!
Posted 08/01/2009 at 07:57:58 AM
Gareth said:
I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth. Futurama will come back, and people will still gripe about it for whatever reason. But in the meantime, I'm just happy that it's back in tact for at least another season.
Posted 08/01/2009 at 10:40:05 AM
Capsulesn'Coffee said:
me thinks the robot mafia put the clamps to those weasels at Fox.
Posted 08/01/2009 at 02:14:46 PM
Hypersapien said:
I think this was all a plot just to keep them out of Comic Con
Posted 08/02/2009 at 11:44:38 AM
Frop said:
guess im a bit late,.. i just came across to make sure you had heard the excellent news!
Posted 08/02/2009 at 01:03:09 PM
John said:
I agree with other posters and call bull**** on this whole story. Which option is more likely:
Option 1) FOX executives see Futurama as the next cash-cow (like Family Guy), which could be resurrected and bring in millions of dollars in income. So, *of course* they want to replace the voice cast and completely change the show, which would cause everyone to turn it off, and it would be cancelled within a month.
They would *never* take the sensible approach and rehire the entire original cast, like they did with Family Guy.
Option 2) FOX needs to get the word out beyond the Comedy Central viewers and sci-fi nerds, so they leak a story about how they're recasting. And, this being the Internet, everyone starts a "save our cast" campaign and creates more publicity than FOX could ever buy. FOX "gives in" to fan demand and "makes a deal" with the cast to bring them back.
Think about it- if FOX had already decided that they would save money by re-casting, I doubt there would be any discussion. If fans were reacting badly, they could have just renamed the show "Futurama II" and changed the characters... and still saved money by not hiring the original cast.
This way, FOX comes across as "fan friendly" by listening to fans.
It's funny how they're still not listening enough to bring back Firefly or the Sarah Conner Chronicles.
Posted 08/02/2009 at 03:14:04 PM
shawn flowers said:
Now if they would just bring back That 80's Show. haha
Posted 08/03/2009 at 08:15:05 PM
dani said:
what, and american news sources don't 'make shit up?'
oh fuck off
Posted 08/03/2009 at 10:09:44 PM
patrick q said:
thank god. i knew the show was gonna come back as soon as Comedy central picked it up
Posted 08/04/2009 at 12:57:12 AM
Nick said:
/me explodes with awesome
Now bring back Firefly, and the universe will be right again. Oh joy... /me weeps.
Posted 08/04/2009 at 11:44:26 AM
EmoBoy110 said:
WTF?! New Voice Actors??? Bull-Shit
Happy that their coming bad
Pissed for new actors
Posted 08/04/2009 at 09:36:26 PM
Beagle Bill said:
EVula said:
Quixotico: whoa whoa whoa, no need to jump to extreme measures. I see no reason why the skullfucking should be called off; there's still a ridiculous number of reasons for it (such as the original cancellation, or Firefly's axing).
Not to mention Summer Glau's other show, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. I'm thrilled that Futurama is back with the original cast, but regarding Fox's past transgressions, I say let the skullfuckings commence!
Posted 08/04/2009 at 09:39:50 PM
jomyron said:
WHAT THE DEUCE!!!
all hail the hypnotoad *creates hypnotoad sound*
Now that my family guy and futurama references are out, I am very happy to hear this news.
south park..on
family guy .. on
simpsons ... on (yeah i like them TOO)
futurama .. on
american dad.. on
(just need arrested development and I can die happy)
Posted 08/07/2009 at 07:10:21 PM






