Taking a page from the "Family Guy" resurrection guidebook, the canceled Fox animated comedy is returning with an order from Comedy Central for 26 new episodes to run over two seasons. [...]

Comedy Central was happy with the specials and with the 72 produced episodes of "Futurama" it acquired from 20th Century Fox TV in 2006. "Yet there is nothing like new, self-contained episodes week to week," said Comedy Central's senior vp programming David Bernath. "This is all about reinvigorating the franchise, giving it a new burst of energy. [...]

"When we brought back 'Family Guy' several years ago, everyone said that it was a once in a lifetime thing that canceled series stay canceled and cannot be revived," said 20th TV chairmen Gary Newman and Dana Walden. "But 'Futurama' was another series that fans simply demanded we bring back."

A spokesperson for 20th Century Fox Television confirms that the cable net has ordered 26 new episodes of Matt Groening and David X. Cohen's late, great animated series to air beginning in 2010. The studio cites Futurama's "blockbuster" performance on DVD and in reruns on Comedy Central as the reason for its rebirth.

As part of the deal, 20th still has an option to license the new episodes' original runs to a broadcast network (such as Fox). If the show does go to broadcast, Comedy Central's license fee will be reduced.

"It's a deal we're all happy with," said Comedy Central programming senior VP David Bernath. "It's a bigger win for us promotionally if we wind up going first... but if we wind up in second position, then the economics work out for us as well."

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"FUTURAMA" RETURNS TO PRODUCTION WITH AN INITIAL ORDER OF 26 NEW EPISODES TO PREMIERE MID 2010

Emmy Award-Winning Animated Comedy Series Confirmed To Run On COMEDY CENTRAL; Broadcast Network Run Also Possible

NEW YORK, June 10, 2009 -- 20th Century Fox Television, the animation powerhouse that brought "Family Guy" back from the dead five years ago, has done it again: Matt Groening and David X. Cohen's brilliantly subversive animated sci-fi comedy "Futurama" will return to production on 26 new half-hour episodes more than six years after the series aired its last original episode. The move comes on the heels of the series' blockbuster performance on DVD and on COMEDY CENTRAL; the announcement was made today by Twentieth Century Fox Television Chairmen Gary Newman and Dana Walden, and David Bernath, senior vice president, programming for COMEDY CENTRAL.

"Futurama" was a staple of Fox's Sunday night animation block from 1999 to 2003 before ceasing production on original episodes. In June 2006, COMEDY CENTRAL acquired the rights to the existing 72 episodes of the series, which the channel began airing in January 2008, and four recently-produced extended length "Futurama" adventures: "Bender's Big Score," "The Beast with a Billion Backs," "Bender's Game" and "Into the Wild Green Yonder," which enjoyed enormous success both on COMEDY CENTRAL and in DVD release. This new deal marks the show's return to episodic series production on original episodes. "Futurama" becomes 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.

The new episodes will be available in mid 2010 to be shown on COMEDY CENTRAL. Twentieth Century Fox Television retains the option to license the original runs of the new episodes to a broadcast network.

"We are excited to continue our relationship with Matt, David and 20th Century Fox TV and to be able to offer COMEDY CENTRAL viewers the first opportunity to see new episodes of 'Futurama,'" said Bernath. "As evidenced by the strong performance of the extended length epics, there remains a deep and passionate fan base for this intelligent and very funny show that matches perfectly with our audience. It's fantastic that we can add brand-new installments of Leela, Fry and Bender's adventures to our existing library."

Quipped Matt Groening, "We're thrilled 'Futurama' is coming back. We now have only 25,766 episodes to make before we catch up with Bender and Fry in the year 3000." Added David X. Cohen, "We're excited and amazed that the show is coming back, perhaps due to some sort of mysterious time loop. We look forward to working with COMEDY CENTRAL and 20th Television to make this the best iteration of the loop yet!"

"When we brought back 'Family Guy' several years ago, everyone said that it was a once-in-a-lifetime thing - that canceled series stay canceled and cannot be revived," commented 20th Century Fox TV Chairmen Gary Newman and Dana Walden. "But 'Futurama' was another series that fans simply demanded we bring back, and we couldn't have been happier when Matt and David agreed that there were many more stories yet to tell."

"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 (John DiMaggio), a robot who possesses human characteristics and flaws. The series aired for five seasons on Fox (1999 to 2003) earning Emmy

View comments | Jun 10th 2009 | contributor

Comments (30)

Comments locked

[-mArc-]Jul 5th 2009, 06:04

Guess the comments didn't work in a while... not sure why yet

SalJul 5th 2009, 09:46

I noticed that to. Cool that Futurama is back though XD

coxiJul 5th 2009, 17:32

i was thinking about posting something like

"what, great news like this and no one posts a comment?" but i guess they just didn't work.

anyway: GREAT NEWS EVERYONE :-)

GreyyygJul 5th 2009, 20:25

GREAT,i love futurama and i thought that wild green yonder was a bit of a rubbish ending for it, don't get me wrong it was good, but i wouldnt have made it the last episode

Go-a-Green-aJul 5th 2009, 23:44

Holy flying heaven cows!!!!! This is magnificent, fantastical, wonderful, happy, happy news!!!! Huzzah!

We're back, baby! (and about time too!) When I moved from where I was living about six years ago, I had to leave my BFF behind AND Futurama was canceled to top it all off! Now my BFF has moved over here to where I live now AND Futurama is back. WOW! Talk about good luck, eh? But good luck always happens to us superfans!

PatrickJul 6th 2009, 00:52

GOOD NEWS EVERYONE! (And yeah, I wanted to say this a long time ago but the comments were broken)

SLHJul 6th 2009, 03:14

Awesome!!!!!

FryishJul 8th 2009, 00:19

Great Godzilla

robeetJul 8th 2009, 18:14

there is a god! this is great news

ritt0170Jul 8th 2009, 23:41

Enter your comment here. Please stay on-topic.

NO TALK ABOUT ILLEGAL DOWNLOADS!
Great news! It looks like King Kong was young enough to save us this time! I can't wait!

BenderTheOffenderJul 10th 2009, 04:21

I'm Back Baby!! Hell yeah!!!!

cld12pk2goJul 12th 2009, 19:57

Epic!

JeremyFeinJul 13th 2009, 00:52

It only made sense since the DVD Movies worked so well. I couldn't believe that BEABB's won for best anime picture overGotham Knight At the Anime's. I did like ITWGY and Bender's Game but this show was meant to be a show not movies.

DaveJul 13th 2009, 09:53

did anyone else see the comic con schedule website? heres what it has listed in regards to futurama:

1:00-1:45 Futurama: Life or Death?!

LeiaJul 14th 2009, 14:01

YAY! I've been waiting for this news!

TheRobutJul 14th 2009, 18:52

About effing time they made it official!

MarcJul 14th 2009, 23:34

Futurama coming back after 6 years
Monkey Island adventure games coming back after 9 years
Fiat cars coming back to the USA after 25 years

Am I in a time loop or something?

PirateKingChrisJul 15th 2009, 01:04

Looking forward to half hour Futurama again! Don't get me wrong, the movies were funny but it felt like the plots were too stretched out to fit in a movie length, moreso as each one came out. Last one I actually got bored by the time it got to the ending. But oh well, new Futurama is obviously GREAT news!

WhatStinksJul 17th 2009, 08:42

I think you guys all smoke too much crack

Futurama STINKS

EirikJul 17th 2009, 08:49

Fantastic news :) can't wait.

CyberStomperJul 17th 2009, 21:10

i can stop crying now!

poetknightJul 17th 2009, 21:20

there recasting futurama !!!! those people at box

mIKEJul 17th 2009, 22:47

Yeah, I just saw the post on EW that FOX officially announced they are recasting all the voices due to salary demands of Billy West and the original actors.

If it is true, I won't watch or buy a single new episode.

WTFryJul 17th 2009, 23:08

"Entertainment Weekly website:

Just when I was getting really excited for the revived Futurama, total bummer news emerges: The voice actors are going to be different. Who's going to Zoid my Zoidberg?

Twentieth Century Fox, which is still producing the series even though new episodes will air on Comedy Central, is recasting the major voice roles for the show. That means no more Billy West (Fry, Professor, and Ziodberg), Katey Sagal (Leela), John DiMaggio (Bender), Maurice LaMarche (Kif Kroker, among others), or Tress MacNeil (Mom, and several others). Worst!

Fox released a statement saying "We love the Futurama voice performers and absolutely wanted to use them, but unfortunately, we could not meet their salary demands. While replacing these talented actors will be difficult, the show must go on. We are confident that we will find terrific new performers to give voice to Matt and David's brilliantly subversive characters."

Is it still Futurama with totally different voices, PopWatchers, or can this news bite your shiny metal -- well, you know."

CliveJul 18th 2009, 04:20

Recasting Futurama will kill the show. Heck, can't they at least bring back Billy West? He's like half the show!

AiursrageJul 18th 2009, 08:53

I think I am going to drink until I reboot.

PSA of the Day: Breaking news over at Forces of Geek: Apparently the search is on at Twentieth Century Fox to recast Futurama Voice Actors Billy West, Katey Sagal, Phil LaMarr, and Maurice LaMarche with sound-alikes ahead of the show

anon7Jul 18th 2009, 10:03

they should just make a whole new crew then in the year 4000 or something. lame to the nth degree.

JurianJul 18th 2009, 13:51

OMG.. If they replace the original cast they just shouldn't bother making new episodes. No way that I'm watching the new episodes if the voices are done by other actors.

ArcStormJul 21st 2009, 17:49

I really can't see the show re-launching WITHOUT the original voice cast! Does anyone really think this is even a possibility?

JamesJul 31st 2009, 11:38

I love all episodes and bought all the seasons including the 4 dvds. It has great satire and parodys that I can relate to. I became a very big fan of it and my family and friends are starting to love it. I would like to see more DVD made. I would like to see more Asian characters cartoon like Jet Li, Jackie Chan, or a season where maybe Fry learns how to fight like Bruce Lee. That would be awesome. If Futurama keeps coming out with new ones. I keep on watching and buying it. I want futurama to keep making episodes or DVDs forever. Your are genius Matt Groening and David X. Cohen and also all people are apart and making it. Thank You! Futurama is best animation made in history!