

[Updated: The Hollywood Reporter says the deals for Katey Sagal, Maurice LaMarche, Tress MacNeille, John DiMaggio and Billy West all closed with 20th TV on Friday. "We are thrilled to have our incredible cast back," Futurama creators Matt Groening and David X. Cohen said in a statement. "The call has already gone out to the animators to put the mouths back on the characters."]
Good news, everyone!
Remember that report that Fox had sent out a casting call to replace the voice actors in the newly resurrected Futurama episodes that will air soon on Comedy Central?
Seems it was a bargaining ploy after all.
Futurama star Maurice LaMarche, who voices a number of roles on the show—I counted 126 of them on IMDB.com, including Kif Kroker—confirms that that the original cast will back when the show is resurrected in 2010.
"Officially, my deal is done," LaMarche said Friday in an exclusive interview with SCI FI Wire. "While I can't speak for the rest of the cast, I see no reason not to expect all the others will do the same by day's end."
LaMarche's comments confirm a report in the Toronto Star.
The newspaper reports that the entire voice cast 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.
"I am extremely grateful to all the fans of Futurama who signed petitions and sent e-mails, both to Fox to profess their dedication to the original cast, and to me, personally, to express their support," LaMarche said. "All the love has been great, and it has meant the world to me. I know how very fortunate I am to have found a career in this profession, and even more fortunate to be working with such incredibly talented people as Matt Groening and David X. Cohen. And I'm hugely grateful to 20th Century Fox TV and Comedy Central to be back working on the funniest and most original animated show in prime time! Futurama am the greetest! And me am returning for a not no good raisin!"
At this past week's Comic-Con in San Diego, the producers of the show said that they were trying to come to an agreement, despite reports that 20th Century Fox Television was considering recasting the voices when the show returns to Comedy Central next year.
In addition to his multitude of roles on Futurama, LaMarche voiced the Brain in Pinky and the Brain and numerous characters on King of the Hill, Johnny Bravo and, of course, The Simpsons.
By Joe B. at 6:19 PM ON 07/31/09
Good! Because without them it just wouldn't be Futurama and I wouldn't watch!
By asfm at 7:05 PM ON 07/31/09
There was no way they were ever going to be replaced unless Fox happened to have an incredibly talented bunch of soundalikes willing to work on the cheap.
But after the films, I'm not sure I'm too bothered. The animation is still great, the characters are still wonderful and the stories are still hovering somewhere between good and great, but it's just not very funny any more.
Hopefully that was just a result of the departure from the 30 minute format and things will be back to normal once things are back to normal, but I'm doubtful.
By Borg at 8:34 PM ON 07/31/09
I thought it was airing on Comedy Central. Is this not correct?
By SpacecatX at 8:47 PM ON 07/31/09
It will be picked up by Comedy central. Fox holds the licensing and is behind the the production of Futurama.
By MrBender at 9:38 PM ON 07/31/09
Everybody Loves Hypnotoad!
All hail hypnotoad.
By Mori at 11:21 PM ON 07/31/09
Futurama is coming back!?!
My life is complete.
Let's hope the new episodes are better than the movies.
By Rig at 12:16 AM ON 08/01/09
The movies were OK, but I believe with all my heart that 30 minutes is the correct dosage. In 30 minutes doses Futurama is one of the funniest and well written animated shows ever done!! Lets just hope that they were able to sign a lot of the original writers from the first run of shows. The writers are just as important if not more important than the actors.
By Paul at 1:08 AM ON 08/01/09
Hooray!
By Mysticfear at 2:57 AM ON 08/01/09
This IS great news!! I was saddened by the news that the movies were the last. I like Futrurama much better then Simpsons.
By Celesto at 4:41 AM ON 08/01/09
very good, cause i wouldnt watch futurama without the original voices.
By Morvo the Anchormonster at 6:38 AM ON 08/01/09
...All glory to the Hypnotoad...
By Neal at 5:46 PM ON 08/02/09
Yea, you better keep the original character voices. You got the money, and no one does the voices like them. Now how about giving them some better stories than the ones in those stupid movies. I did not like any of the movies, the show is a classic though.
By Spaceman Spiff at 11:14 PM ON 08/02/09
Fururama sucks, always has, always will.
By Fishy Joe Gellman at 5:34 PM ON 08/03/09
And it was all made possible by the Space Pope
Fishy Joe Gellman:
And it was all made possible by the Space Pope...More »