Futurama reboot on Hulu: UK release date, cast and latest news
It’s time to go back to the future!
It's finally back - after a 10-year hiatus Matt Groening's sci-fi cartoon Futurama has returned with a brand-new 20-episode season.
The new season once again follows 25-year-old pizza delivery boy Philip Fry (voiced by Billy West) who, after tripping and falling into a cryogenic freezer in 1999, woke up 1000 years later with a new bunch of pals including Leela (Katey Sagal), a one-eyed alien and a foul-mouthed android called Bender.
Original cast members Billy West, Katey Sagal, Tress MacNeille, Maurice LaMarche, Lauren Tom, Phil LaMarr, David Herman and John DiMaggio are all back for the new season, which follows the show up after two separate cancellations.
The series was initially cancelled in 2003 after launching in 1999 but, after outrage from fans, it made a comeback until 2013, when it was cancelled again.
But what is this new season of Futurama about, who is in the cast and when can fans in the UK watch the new episodes? Read on for everything you need to know.
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Futurama reboot UK release date
It's finally here - the Futurama reboot has now started airing on Hulu in the US and Disney Plus in the UK, with the first episode being released on Monday 24th July 2023.
New episodes will now continue to stream weekly. You can sign up to Disney Plus for £7.99 a month or £79.90 a year.
What is the new season of Futurama about?
The official synopsis for the Futurama reboot, AKA season 8, says: "After a brief ten-year hiatus, Futurama has crawled triumphantly from the cryogenic tube, its full original cast and satirical spirit intact. The ten all-new episodes of season eleven have something for everyone.
"New viewers will be able to pick up the series from here, while long-time fans will recognise payoffs to decades-long mysteries – including developments in the epic love story of Fry and Leela, the mysterious contents of Nibbler's litter box, the secret history of evil Robot Santa, and the whereabouts of Kif and Amy's tadpoles.
"Meanwhile there's a whole new pandemic in town as the crew explores the future of vaccines, bitcoin, cancel culture, and streaming TV."
Futurama revival cast and characters: Is John DiMaggio back?
Original Futurama cast members who have made a comeback for the revival include - Billy West (Fry) and Katey Sagal (Leela), Tress MacNeille (Mom, many others), Maurice LaMarche (Kif), Lauren Tom (Amy), Phil LaMarr (Hermes), and David Herman (Scruffy).
What's more, after some early speculation about whether John DiMaggio would be returning as fan-favourite android Bender, he has in fact returned!
He posted a statement to announce his return on Twitter back in February 2022, saying: "I'M BACK, BABY! So damn grateful for the love and support of fans and colleagues alike during this whole time (especially my wife, Kate), and I cannot wait to get back to work with my Futurama family.
"#Bendergate is officially over, so put it on the back of a shelf behind Xmas decorations, or maybe in that kitchen drawer with all of the other crap you put in there like old unusable crazy glue, or maybe even put it in a jar you save farts in. Whatever floats your boat, I don’t care, you get the picture. I’M BACK, BABY! BITE MY SHINY METAL A**!"
Fans were dismayed when DiMaggio was absent from the announcement made by Hulu parent company Disney on 9th February 2022.
He then clarified he had not joined the show at the time of its announcement out of “self-respect” as negotiations over pay were still ongoing.
"Just to be clear," DiMaggio said in a statement on Twitter, "I don't think that only I deserve to be paid more. I think the entire cast does."
"It's about self-respect," DiMaggio added in the statement. "And honestly, being tired of an industry that's become far too corporate and takes advantage of artists' time and talent."
“From the moment John DiMaggio auditioned last century, we knew we had our Bender,” series creator Matt Groening said. “So congrats to everyone at ‘Futurama.’ We’re all back, baby!”
“John DiMaggio may be a great robot, but he’s also a great human being,” executive producer David X. Cohen added. “Not many people or machines can say that. For the fourth time, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime thrill to be back with our entire original cast and the phenomenal animators of Rough Draft Studios!”
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Is there a trailer for the new season of Futurama?
There is, and you can watch the trailer right here:
Futurama season 8 is streaming weekly now on Disney Plus. Sign up to Disney Plus for £7.99 a month or £79.90 a year.
If you’re looking for something else to watch, check out our TV Guide or Streaming Guide, or visit our Comedy hub for all the latest news and features.
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