Futurama will be returning with its original cast intact, after all. According to Deadline, John DiMaggio--the sole holdout in the recent announcement of the revival--has «closed a deal to reprise his signature voice role.»
«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,» DiMaggio said in a statement obtained by the publication. "#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 ass!"
After the revival was announced in February, and that DiMaggio would not be participating, speculation quickly arose that the actor was jockeying for more money. In a tweet DiMaggio sent out on February 15 he responded by clarifying that, «I don't think that only I deserve to be paid more. I think the entire cast does… nothing about this is meant to be disrespectful to the fans or my Futurama family.»
Just as quickly, speculation broke out that Bender's role would be recast. Mark Hamill announced that in solidarity, he would not audition for the role of «fake Bender.»
In addition to DiMaggio, the rest of the main cast are confirmed to be returning, including Billy West as Fry, Katey Sagal as Leela, Lauren Tom as Amy, and Phil LaMarr as Hermes. Series creator Matt Groening and writer David X. Cohen are returning as well.
Futurama will return in 20 new episodes coming to Hulu sometime in 2023.
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