It was announced last week that Futurama had been brought back from the brink yet again. Hulu has ordered twenty all-new episodes of animated sci-fi comedy series from Matt Groening and David X. Cohen and the entire original cast will be returning… with one notable exception. Unfortunately, it seems that John DiMaggio will not be reprising his role of Bender for the Futurama revival.
Billy West, Katey Sagel, Tress MacNeille, Maurice LaMarche, Lauren Tom, Phil LaMarr, and David Herman will all be returning for the Futurama revival, but 20th Television Animation and Hulu weren’t able to make a deal with John DiMaggio. The actor took to Twitter to explain his side of the unfortunate circumstances. “I’ve been thinking about everything that’s been going on these past months,” DiMaggio wrote “And just to be clear, I don’t think that only I deserve to be paid more. I think the entire cast does.” Billy West, Katey Sagel, and John DiMaggio were all offered a similar deal, and while West and Sagel accepted, DiMaggio felt it was too low and countered, but Hulu didn’t want to give DiMaggio more than West and Sagel, bringing us to the current stalemate.
“Negotiations are a natural part of working in show business,” DiMaggio continued. “Everyone has a different strategy & different boundaries. Their ‘price.’ Some accept offers, some hold their ground. Bender is part of my soul & nothing about this is meant to be disrespectful to the fans or my Futurama family. It’s about self-respect. And honestly, being tired of an industry that’s become far too corporate and takes advantage of artist’s time & talent.”
A table read for the first episode of the Futurama revival was held on Monday, but with someone else reading the Bender role. Given the nature of animation, it’s entirely possible that the studio could reach an agreement with John DiMaggio before the revival premieres next year. DiMaggio says that he’s “still hoping for the best.” As are we. I really can’t imagine Futurama without John DiMaggio as Bender, so I can only hope that 20th Television Animation and Hulu wise up and pay the cast what they’re worth for the revival.