‘Futurama’ Has a Bright Future with New Episodes on Hulu

Fry, Leela and Bender will be making a special delivery of brand-new sci-fi adventures to Hulu! 20th Television Animation and Hulu announced today the return of Matt Groening and David X. Cohen’s brilliantly subversive animated sci-fi comedy, Futurama. The announcement was made  by Craig Erwich, President, Hulu Originals & ABC Entertainment, and 20th Television Animation Head Marci Proietto.

“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,” said Erwich.

Proietto added, “What I love about animation is that it’s possible for a successful show to take a pause and then resume years later, even on a different platform, and pick up right where it left off. Futurama is one of those shows. The excitement from Hulu about returning Matt and David’s genius creation for all-new episodes has been off the charts. I’m thrilled that this incredible team will get to tell more stories, and that our Planet Express crew will have more adventures together. It’s a win for the fans who have loved the show since the beginning, and for the ones who will now discover it for the very first time.”

The order is for 20 new episodes and the series will go into production in February, with a 2023 premiere. The show’s returning voice cast includes stars Billy West, Katey Sagal, Tress MacNeille, Maurice LaMarche, Lauren Tom, Phil LaMarr and David Herman.

“I’m thrilled to have another chance to think about the future… or really anything other than the present,” said Cohen.

Groening commented, “It’s a true honor to announce the triumphant return of Futurama one more time before we get canceled abruptly again.”

First airing on FOX from 1999-2003, Futurama was brought back in 2007 with four direct-to-DVD movies that subsequently aired as 30-minute episodes on Comedy Central. Based on their success, Comedy Central ordered new seasons of the series which made a triumphant return to television in June 2010. Futurama is only the second series in the history of the medium to go back into production based on the strength of its DVD sales and repeat airings on cable.

Over the course of its storied run, Futurama earned six Emmy Awards — including two for Outstanding Animated Program — seven Annie Awards, two Environmental Media Awards and two Writers Guild of America Awards. Over its seven seasons spanning two decades, 140 original episodes were produced, with the then-final episode airing on September 4, 2013.

Created by Groening and developed with Cohen, Futurama focuses on the life of Philip Fry (Billy West), a 25-year-old pizza delivery boy who accidentally freezes himself on December 31, 1999 and wakes up 1,000 years later with a fresh start at life and a “diverse” new group of friends including Leela (Katey Sagal), a tough but lovely one-eyed alien and Bender, a robot who possesses human characteristics and flaws.

The series is produced by 20th Television Animation, part of Disney Television Studios, with Rough Draft Studios, Inc. contributing the animation.