'Futurama' May Return To TV With New Voices

Matt Groening's Futurama will return to TV next year, although it will have a new home. A few weeks ago, it was announced that Comedy Central would air a full season's worth of new episodes - 26 in all - and at the time, there was a suggestion that the original voice cast would be back on board. However, now it looks like Katey Segal, John DiMaggio, Maurice LaMarche, Tress MacNeille, and Billy West won't be around to give Groening's characters their familiar voices. The reason? What else: "We love the Futurama voice performers and absolutely wanted to use them, but unfortunately, we could not meet their salary demands," Fox said in a press release Friday. "While replacing these talented actors will be difficult, the show must go on." The amounts at issue aren't immediately available, but The Hollywood Reporter says the actors were offered slightly larger salaries than they made in their last deal, which is about seven years old, since the show was last on the air in 2003. Now, what's weird about all this is even though the show is returning to TV, that's not enough for die hard fans, who have reportedly already threatened Futurama casting directors if they actually hire new voice actors. May be a case of cutting off the nose to spite the face, although I understand being disappointed if the show continues without the cast.

Comments

[Only ONE Bender]

Way to lowball again out of spite, Fox and Comedy Central!

[nick soapdish]

What are any of those people doing that they feel that they shouldn't take a pay increase to do this show?

[anybody]

I'm a huge fan of the show but I cannot imagine it without the same cast. It would just throw me and hurt the show, like the first season of the simpsons when they haven't really nailed the voices yet. boooo fox, you cancel all your best shows (AD) and then bring them back only to ruin them.

[Tjei]

As long as it has the same characters, the rest of the world is going to be more than happy that the series continue, these voices get dubbed over anyways.

[faulty logic]

Fine lose Katie Segal, but Seriously John DiMaggio, Maurice LaMarche, Tress MacNeille, and Billy West make up probably 80% of the rest of the casting in the series. I'm always upset by the lack of credit voice actors get.

[LengthyCobra]

seriously this one of my fav cartoons of all time. they remove billy west and co i wont watch a single episode. fox really knows how to mess stuff up