While Futurama does slowly explore an overarching and epic sci-fi story, the show is very rooted in self-contained storylines and relationships. Over the show's runs on Fox and later Comedy Central, John DiMaggio's beloved antihero Bender was given lots of single-episode relationships to further flesh him out. However, unlike other characters, the robot's love interests were often big names appearing in unexpected places.

Bender's romantic history on Futurama includes plenty of quick hook-ups and equally quick breakups, which highlight the purposefully roughish qualities of the character. Among his former romances are some pretty big names from the world of comedy and some major stars of the silver screen. Here are the biggest stars who've appeared as love interests for Bender -- and who could potentially fill that role when Futurama returns on Hulu.

RELATED: Futurama Reboot Planned to Replace John DiMaggio With Guest Stars as the Voice of Bender

Bea Arthur Was No-Nonsense as Futurama's Fem-Puter

Futurama Bender Romances Guest Stars 1

Bea Arthur was one of the more enduring female comedians of America's 20th century, earning a historic number of Emmy Award nominations for her work on shows like All in the Family, Maude and as one of NBC's timeless The Golden Girls. She was also the first major guest star to appear on Futurama as a love interest for Bender. Arthur appeared in the Season 3 premiere "Amazon Women in the Mood" as an unnamed Fembot posing as the all-knowing Femputer.

After landing on the Amazon homeworld, the Femputer became recognized as the Amazons' leader, and instituted a harsh law against males on the planet. But while Leela and Amy did their best to save Fry, Kif Kroker and the boorish Zapp Brannigan from a lethal sentence, Bender ended up meeting and seducing Arthur's Fembot. He used her interest to his advantage, as the Fembot freed the others and ordered her Amazons to hand over all their gold.

RELATED: Futurama's Best Ever Retcon Gave Bender a Perfect Secret Guardian

Jan Hooks Portrayed Bender's First Real Love Angleyne

Futurama Bender Romances Guest Stars 3

Jan Hooks was a veteran of NBC's increasingly absurd sketch show Saturday Night Live before becoming a regular player on various sitcoms like 3rd Rock from the Sun and 30 Rock, often bringing a blunt charm to her characters and impressions. She was also a voice actor for other animated series like The Simpsons and Family Guy. Her guest appearance on Futurama came in Season 3, Episode 6, "Bendless Love" as Angleyne.

After finding work bending girders, Bender was introduced to the raspy-voiced but sultry Angleyne, who quickly developed a fondness for Bender. The two began a romance, but Bender's jealousy over her amicable relationship with her ex-husband Flexo -- who's an almost identical copy of Bender -- set off a chain of events that inadvertently reaffirmed her feelings for her ex. Bender's heart was legitimately broken, but his love for Angleyne led to one of Futurama's most impressive Bender moments.

RELATED: Futurama's Voice Cast Was Almost Wildly Different

Lucy Liu Appeared as Herself in Futurama

Futurama Bender Romances Guest Stars 6

Lucy Liu is one of Hollywood's most enduring stars. The actor-director's career has shifted from high-octane action like Quentin Tarantino's hit film Kill Bill to more character-driven shows like Elementary. Yet Liu's guest spot on Futurama didn't see her playing a robot or some other future citizen, but herself. She was reduced to a head in a jar -- as was the case with most modern celebrities in the 31st century world -- but she had a considerable role.

Liu first appeared in Season 3, Episode 15, "I Dated a Robot" when Fry began a romance with her robotic duplicate of. Trying to get Fry to break things off and resume his normal life, Bender, Leela and Zoidberg located the real Liu and freed her from a futuristic version of Napster. Liu developed an attraction to Bender and the pair ended the episode making out. Liu returned the following season in "Love and Rocket," now residing in Bender's chest. Although she told the robot she loved him, Bender was completely comfortable seeing someone else behind her back.

RELATED: Futurama Had Its Own Version of Simpsons' Treehouse of Horror

Sigourney Weaver Voiced Futurama's Planet Express Ship

Sigourney Weaver is one of the sci-fi genre's most recognizable performers, rising to prominence after her starring role as Ripley in Alien and her Oscar-nominated performance in the subsequent sequel. Weaver's role in Futurama's "Love and Rocket" was also one of the more impactful of Bender's love interests. She gave life to a long-established element of the show: the Planet Express ship.

After the ship received new upgrades -- including changes to the artificial intelligence programmed into the vessel -- Bender and the ship began a whirlwind romance. But the ship became dangerously possessive, almost killing the entire crew just to become closer to Bender. The episode ended with her memory wiped. However, a Futurama fan theory suggests Weaver's ship lived on within Bender's mind and impacted his character development in subsequent seasons.

RELATED: How Futurama Quietly Fit Doctor Who Into Its Universe (and Why It's Perfect)

Wanda Sykes' Bev Made Futurama's Bender a Father

Futurama Bender Romances Guest Stars 4

Wanda Sykes has been a consistent presence in the stand-up world for decades and was recently one of the comedians tapped to briefly host The Daily Show in light of Trevor Noah's departure. Sykes appeared in Futurama Season 7, Episode 1, "The Bots and the Bees" as the new vending machine at the Planet Express office. Named Bev, she quickly developed a love/hate relationship with Bender that resulted in a night of passion.

However, the fling ended up getting Bev pregnant -- leading to the birth of Bender's son Ben. Luckily for the young boy, Bender proved to be a great parent. But Bev's return almost upends their entire relationship when she tried to take custody. She eventually let Ben go -- and soon had a second child, this time with recurring police officer/robot URL.

RELATED: Was Futurama's Bender Always Fated to be Evil?

What Bender's Love Life Could Look Like in Futurama's Hulu Revival

Futurama Bender Script

Futurama is set to return with a brand new season on Hulu, giving fans a chance to join the Planet Express crew on further journeys across the cosmos. While the last Comedy Central season ended with Fry and Leela's romance settled (and even the perpetually pitiable Zoidberg in a stable, happy relationship), there's still plenty of opportunity for Bender to find true love. Or , more likely, as true of love as the notorious scoundrel is likely ever to accept.

If another guest star shows up to be a romantic foil to Bender, they'll hopefully be able to bring out new layers of the character. This could follow in the footsteps of his short-lived love interest Countess from Season 1's "A Flight to Remember," a sweet figure who inspired a surprisingly romantic side in Bender. But someone rough and tumble who can empathize with him would be more likely to strike an ideal chord. That sort of role would be perfectly suited for someone like Poker Face star Natasha Lyonne, who could match Bender in all the ways that matter most.

Futurama is expected to return on Hulu in Summer 2023.