Decoding the Intricate and Extensive Cancellation Saga of Futurama

Futurama, the animated series, is returning for another revival on Hulu, marking its third platform. The show has had a total of four series finales, but continues to be revived due to its popularity and dedicated fan base. The new season will premiere on July 24, 2023, with 20 episodes planned.

Futurama, the beloved animated series created by Matt Groening, has had a tumultuous history of cancellations and revivals. In the ever-evolving landscape of modern-day Hollywood, where reboots and revivals are the norm, Futurama stands out as a show that has been resurrected multiple times. As fans eagerly await its latest return, let's take a look back at every other time the show has come to an end.

Television reboots have become increasingly common, thanks to the rise of streaming platforms and their ability to produce new content. Most reboots follow a similar pattern - a show is revived, new content is created, and then it eventually ends again. Series finales have lost their significance, as a show can always make a comeback at a later date. In fact, a successful show with a successful revival may even have two series finales by the time both runs conclude. But Futurama takes this to a whole new level, with a total of four series finales to its name. And it's not done yet. The show is set to make yet another comeback on July 24, 2023, premiering on Hulu, which will be its third platform.

What makes Futurama so unique? Perhaps it's fitting that a show with a 1,000-year-old human protagonist keeps rising from the ashes. But beyond that, it's simply a great show that has captivated fans for nearly 25 years. So let's delve into the times when Futurama ended, returned, and then ended again.

Futurama was born out of the success of Matt Groening's other iconic creation, The Simpsons. Unlike Futurama, The Simpsons has been on the air continuously since 1989 and shows no signs of stopping. Fox, impressed by the success of Groening's first show, approached him to create another one. And thus, Futurama made its debut on March 28, 1999. The show quickly gained a loyal following of critics and audiences alike, despite Fox's lack of confidence in its success. The network frequently moved the show around the schedule, often preempting episodes with sports overruns and providing little notice of rescheduled air dates. This lack of support ultimately led to the show's quiet cancellation in 2003 after four seasons. The fourth season finale, "The Devil's Hands Are Idle Playthings," was written as the series finale, marking the end of Futurama's first life on Fox.

But that wasn't the end of the story. In the early 2000s, Adult Swim acquired the rights to syndicate Futurama, along with another canceled Fox animated show, Family Guy. Family Guy's successful revival inspired the team behind Futurama to follow suit. Comedy Central picked up the syndication rights to Futurama in 2005 and agreed to produce four direct-to-DVD movies. These movies, released between 2007 and 2009, were later split into TV episodes and aired as the show's fifth season on Comedy Central. However, since the deal was only for those four films, the future of the show remained uncertain. The fourth movie, "Into the Wild Green Yonder," was written as the second series finale, bringing Fry's story to a close once again.

But Futurama wasn't ready to say goodbye just yet. Comedy Central recognized the show's potential and ordered a sixth season of 26 new episodes in 2009. The show returned to the airwaves in June 2010, and audiences welcomed it back with open arms. The sixth season's finale, "Overclockwise," was designated as a potential series finale, but the show's popularity ensured its renewal for a seventh season. However, all good things must come to an end, and the seventh season was confirmed as the final (yet again) in 2013. The series finale, "Meanwhile," aired on September 4, 2013, marking the fourth and seemingly final end of Futurama.

For a long time, it seemed like that was truly the end. Groening expressed his desire to find a new home for the show, but nothing materialized, and it appeared that Futurama was truly done for good. However, in 2022, Hulu came to the rescue. The streaming platform recognized the enduring popularity of the show and ordered a new season of 20 episodes, set to premiere on July 24, 2023. The entire main cast is returning, and fans are eagerly anticipating the revival. Will this be the revival that finally sticks? Only time will tell. But if history is any indication, there may be many more Futurama revivals in the future. For now, fans can look forward to the first ten episodes airing this year, with the second half to follow in 2024. And if all else fails, we can always hope for a few hundred more revivals in the year 3000.