According to Lisa Simpson's voice actor, Yeardley Smith, fans of The Simpsons won't need to say goodbye to Springfield anytime soon. With 750 episodes and 34 seasons behind them, the series continues to look forward to the future. For years, fans have wondered if The Simpsons will be canceled, but in January 2023, the series was renewed through 2025.
When asked in an interview if there had even been a discussion about the last episode of the hit show, Smith said, "No, actually, not seriously. We just started recording Season 34, which is a crazy sentence in and of itself, because most shows last, you're lucky if it lasts five years, which means you hit the 100 episode mark, which means you'll get residuals. But nowadays, even three seasons is-- the whole, streaming just upended the entire industry," Smith told The Movie Dweeb YouTube channel.
The Simpsons Will Carry On As Long As It Benefits Disney
Though the cast isn't currently contracted beyond Season 34, Smith doesn't expect new owner Disney to end the show anytime soon. "We started recording Season 34 and it's the last of our two season pickups. We had a pickup for 33 and 34, but I feel like we would be given a pretty big heads-up for the last season because, at the very least, Disney who bought Fox, all but Fox News and Fox Sports, part of the reason they bought it was for The Simpsons," Smith explained. "Also, if it was the last season, I think they would want to capitalize on that and make bazillions on advertising."
The need for new material for streaming services such as Disney+ is another reason why Smith believes the show will continue. The streaming service is not only home to all previous seasons of The Simpsons, but it also airs shorts featuring the residents of Springfield mixing with other Disney properties such as Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. "I'd never say the job is safe, but I feel like considering how much content streaming services need, they can never have enough. If somebody is literally going to binge your whole series in a weekend, you're f--cked! How do you keep that voracious appetite fed? It's a huge thing."
Despite first appearing on screens in 1989, The Simpsons remains relevant. The show is well-known for being able to 'predict' the future, such as the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine. "We're still in the news. It's still extraordinarily relevant," Smith explained. "The shows are great. We read a script yesterday that is fantastic. It was so funny. And for a script to be that lively and vivid over Zoom means it's f--king incredible. It's really, really great. Super-excited. It's been a joy in every way. I really mean that."
The Simpsons is available to stream on Disney+
Source: YouTube