Hulu is bringing back Futurama for an eighth season of 20 new episodes, generating tremendous anticipation for the return of the Planet Express and its crew. This revival, officially labeled as Season 8, comes a decade after the highly acclaimed finale of the original Futurama series on Comedy Central.
It’s not the first time this Emmy award-winning animated dramedy has found a new home, having originally aired on Fox and running on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim, Comedy Central, and 20th Century Fox. Now, Hulu is the latest network to showcase this beloved animated comedy-drama, a full decade after the conclusion of Futurama.
The groundwork for the Futurama reboot was laid in Season 7, Episode 26, titled “Meanwhile.” The final episode revealed that Professor Farnsworth had created a time machine capable of resetting reality to the moment before the show’s pilot episode.
The Professor erases everyone’s memories of subsequent events by activating the machine and restarting Futurama from scratch. This provides Season 8 with the opportunity to begin anew. Although the exact approach of the reboot remains uncertain, various updates regarding the Futurama reboot offer some clues.
Futurama Season 8 Release Date
The release date for Season 8 of Futurama is July 24, 2023, and episodes will be released every week. It’s almost unbelievable that a new season of Futurama is on the horizon, considering that it has been a decade since the finale of Season 7.
Despite the perfect ending of the previous season, the show’s cast and crew were still eager for it to continue, but unfortunately, Fox canceled it.
Co-creator David X. Cohen had even expressed his desire to follow up Season 7 with a movie, stating, “The most exciting thing would be if FOX said, ‘Hey, let’s make a feature film for theatrical release,’ which is something we haven’t done” (via IGN). However, in a fortunate turn of events, Hulu came to the rescue in 2022 and gave the green light for a 20-episode season.
Futurama Season 8 Cast
The major question surrounding the voice cast of Futurama Season 8 revolved around John DiMaggio’s return as Bender. Fortunately, it has been confirmed that John DiMaggio will indeed be reprising his role as the voice of Bender.
The decision to bring him back came after an outpouring of support from audiences who rallied behind the hashtag #BenderGate, expressing their discontent with the apparent plans to exclude DiMaggio from the reboot during Hulu’s Futurama revival.
DiMaggio initially considered not returning to Futurama during the contract negotiations as he demanded higher wages for the entire cast. Although the contract dispute has been resolved and DiMaggio’s return for Season 8 is confirmed, he admitted that he didn’t achieve what he had hoped for financially.
However, he expressed satisfaction in gaining the respect and recognition of his fellow cast members, stating, “I didn’t get more money. But what I did get was a lot of respect, and a lot of head nods from people who are like, ‘Yo bro, I see you and thank you.'”
In addition to DiMaggio, the entire Planet Express crew will return to reprise their roles in the new episodes of Futurama Season 8.
Joining DiMaggio in the Futurama revival are Billy West (Fry, Professor Farnsworth, Dr. Zoidberg), Katey Sagal (Leela), Tress MacNeille (Leela’s Mom, Linda, Nerdbot), Phil LaMarr (Hermes Conrad), Lauren Tom (Amy Wong), and Maurice LaMarche (Calculon, Kif, Morbo).
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Futurama Season 8 Trailer
After much anticipation, the release date for Futurama Season 8 has finally been announced in May 2023. The exciting news was revealed through a brief 20-second clip on May 18, which provided a glimpse of the upcoming season without any dialogue.
Dubbed “Hulurama” by Hulu, the video features a medley of screams and peculiar alien noises, with a particularly memorable moment showing Zapp Brannigan’s agonizing scream as his chest hair is yanked off.
The teaser also confirms the return of beloved characters such as Kif Kroker, Amy Wong, Hermes Conrad, and Scruffy, adding to the new season’s excitement.
Futurama Season 8 Plot
While specific details about the upcoming season have been kept secret, much speculation surrounds what we can anticipate. One thing is certain – the adored cast of characters from the show will be making their return. From Fry and Leela to Bender and Professor Farnsworth, we will again enjoy seeing all our beloved favorites.
Also, rumors have been circulating about exciting new storylines in Season 8. Some sources suggest that the show will delve into unexplored corners of the Futurama universe, introducing us to new worlds and characters. Others speculate that significant developments will occur in the relationships between our beloved characters.
