Analysis: Who Are The Likeliest Candidates For A “Futurama” Revival?
More than any other canceled series in the history of adult animation, Futurama has by far been the most coveted by fans to see a potential revival(nobody wants a game or a radioplay). Everybody wants it. Creator Matt Groening wants it. The voice cast and producers want it. The fans want it. Maurice LaMarche said so last week. But, which network or streaming service would be the most likely landing spot for Futurama? Well, the list is small. And the options aren’t great. Read on:
Overview
Despite being the network that has had The Simpsons for 30+ seasons, FOX had a very different and sordid history with Futurama. The series never gained any serious fandom with FOX higher ups so the broadcast network just simply gave up in buying new episodes. At the time (and even today, still the network’s preference), FOX preferred animated comedies revolving around families. At the time it was series like King of the Hill, Family Guy, and the recently departed The PJs that the network were seriously backing. Futurama was lucky enough to get the series order.
Our Take
Even with the network’s uptick in series orders, I only half-believe the FOX network would seriously consider a return of Futurama. FOX network’s future is animated comedies being produced by their recent acquisition, Bento Box Entertainment, the production company currently producing the likes of Bob’s Burgers, The Great North, and Housebroken. The name of the game for them is to get as much profit as possible. Soon the 20th Television series will be on to greener pastures, that includes Futurama.
Overview
After FOX canceled Futurama in 2003, a still burgeoning Adult Swim (and for a brief run, sister network TBS) snagged the syndication rights to the series which did a couple of things. Along with Family Guy, both franchises were responsible for shepherding a new crop of fans to both, and number of new producers of adult animation would gain fervor. The likes of Seth Green, Doc Hammer/Jackson Publick, and Adam Reed would get their starts as a result of the added attention that would help bring the network into the next few decades.
Our Take
But could Futurama make a return visit here? Unlikely. In 2021 20th Television animated series like Family Guy, Bob’s Burgers, and others will no longer be seen on Adult Swim as part of Disney’s way of moving these franchises to affiliate networks like FXX and Freeform to help bolster ratings. Since then, Family Guy has helped the aforementioned networks double it’s overnight ratings in every key demographic. Parent company for Futurama? 20th Television. That leaves any WarnerMedia affiliated network like Adult Swim out in the cold. Fortunately for Adult Swim, they have two animated series set in space already, Final Space and Rick and Morty, the latter of which has had a history of employing former Futurama producers/writers.
Overview
There’s no such thing as a petty history between Adult Swim and Comedy Central. Syndication rights to television shows happens in a bid, the highest bidder gets the rights to the series, end of story. That’s what happened in 2005 when Comedy Central entered into negotiations to acquire syndication rights to Futurama. The result, four movies and a 2009 order of more episodes that helped Futurama reach a true series finale for the ages.
Our Take
Could Comedy Central renew Futurama for more episodes? The series is still in syndication here, and the network has been threatening a return of MTV classics like Beavis and Butt-Head and Daria so, like Adult Swim, the network may want to shepherd it’s own franchises due to the fact that they should make for attractive eye candy for the upcoming Paramount+ streaming service.
Overview
This one’s going to be short, folks. Syfy has been syndicating Futurama like crazy for a few years now.
Our Take
The franchise has helped shepherd a growing audience into it’s own adult animation lineup known as TZGZ and that’s been slowly, but surely, getting off the ground with strong results. But, no, I don’t think Syfy would be interested in renewing a series if it can’t stream the episodes on it’s burgeoning Peacock network. I actually think sister network G4, which is expected to return next year, has a better chance of reviving another adult animation classic more so than Futurama on Syfy.
Overview
Hulu is the official streaming home for all things adult animation as it relates to Disney-owned properties. Next year, Adult Swim content will continue an exodus that will see everything on HBO MAX, until then, but Futurama will be safe here forever and ever.
Our Take
Just yesterday it was announced that former FOX exec Dana Walden reorganized 20th Television that will see their animation spun into it’s own unit headed by Marci Proietto. So while kids animation will probably be more of the focus for Disney Television Studios, 20th Television will man properties like Family Guy, The Simpsons, and yes, the future of Futurama. By far Hulu has the best chance to renew Futurama and the marriage is a perfect match. The streaming service will need to fill in the adult animation catalog (which is the streamer’s biggest source of viewership) that will soon be void of Adult Swim and has been void of South Park for a few months now. They’ve got some great new IP in the form of Solar Opposites, Crossing Swords, and more, but new episodes of Futurama would “lock in” Hulu as an adult animation for decades to come…unless.
Overview
Currently, FX Networks features reruns of Family Guy, The Simpsons, and Bob’s Burgers, all doing very well, but John Landgraf has been promising an Archer ally for years.
Our Take
This is my dark horse candidate for a Futurama revival. Maybe we get something even sillier like an FX on Hulu bit where Futurama airs on both networks ala how Archer was handled. But, if John Landgraf wants a great way to revive an aging FX brand that just lost one of it’s most important producers in Ryan Murphy, sucking up to Matt Groening would be the way to go.
Just cancel this bird already. The chicken is beyond cooked. It's burnt to a crisp.