18 years after Maggie blurted out her first word to her family during The Simpsons Movie credits (“sequel?”), 20th Century Studios is finally making good on its promise.
The Simpsons Movie 2 is currently scheduled for 23 July 2027, taking over a slot parent company Disney previously set aside for yet another entry in the MCU. I’ve often speculated that if a sequel eventually came to pass, it would be the perfect way to end the show for good.
But that isn’t what’s happened – before this announcement, the animated sitcom was renewed for another four seasons, taking it up to season 40, which would start airing the year after this new film releases. It also happens to be the fortieth year it’s been on screens overall.
So, does that mean that The Simpsons will continue forever? I beg to differ. In fact, this announcement has made me more confident than ever that the show is building towards its end… and if it’s not, then it should. Looking at you, Disney.
The Simpsons Movie 2 couldn’t come at a better time
While many might be questioning why Disney has waited so long for another Simpsons movie, it makes a lot of sense.
The show has seen a bounce back in quality in recent years. Some episodes that have pleasantly surprised me, fans and critics include the very meta Bart’s Birthday, in which the young prankster finally turns 11, and the show puts on a faux ending to wrap everything up (including bringing back the strangling gag, which had been absent from the show).
Lisa the Boy Scout is a real treat, written as an anthology featuring all the ‘unreleased’ clips from the show. Treehouse of Horror XXXIII has also received wide praise thanks to its genuinely creepy and brutal moments and solid homages to pop culture.
All three episodes share a common theme – they reference a lot of the lore and jokes from the classic ‘golden era’ of the show. They’re self-aware and reward long-time fans, and that’s exactly the sort of thing that would make The Simpsons Movie sequel a roaring success.
Take a glance through the comments on Reddit about the announcement – it’s chock full of old jokes: Lenord Nimoy claiming his work is done before teleporting away, fans lamenting that they hope the film isn’t about sending Homer to a planet filled with talking (and singing) apes, and speculation that the full title may be The Simpsons Movie 2: Football in the Groin.
The writing team are clearly aware of just how expansive and strong their back library is. If they get this right, it could be the perfect opportunity to set up for two final seasons to complete the show in a blaze of glory – with both seasons 39 and 40 on the cards post-release, as things stand.
Plus, Bart prophesied the return date in detention – and we all know The Simpsons has a habit of predicting the future. It’s fate.
The Julie Kavner issue
It is truly amazing that nearly forty years later, the four main voice actors for the show are still around. However, that time has taken its toll – and there’s been a lot of chatter surrounding the actress for Marge, Julie Kavner.
At 75 years old, Kavner is the oldest of the quartet – both Dan Castellaneta (Homer) and Nancy Cartwright (Bart) are 67, while Yeardley Smith (Lisa) is 61. Fans have noticed a deterioration in her voice steadily over the years, possibly due to vocal strain from producing the classic raspy tones of the matriarch of the family, plus Patty and Selma.
While The Simpsons has replaced some actors in the supporting cast, swapping out an original member is another matter entirely. This group are The Simpsons. To many fans, they are irreplaceable.
Sure, there are plenty of voice actors that would jump at the chance to take over this role, and these days, there’s even the dreaded and depressing possibility that Marge’s voice could continue via AI, but would the show still be supported if Disney chose this route? I doubt it.
Disney
While, of course, any of the other three members could also choose to step down at any time (contracts permitting, which I’m sure are iron-clad for the upcoming film), Kavner seems the most likely to go. By the time season 40 airs, she’ll nearly be 80 years old – in fact, supporting star Harry Shearer has already passed that mark.
They’ve all had a long and successful run, and it feels like the end should be approaching. Perhaps that announcement may even come during The Simpsons Movie 2.
The Simpsons 850 theory
Reddit (yet again) proves to be a great source for Simpsons aficionados, as someone has worked out that because new seasons have a reduced episode count of 15, that would make the final entry in season 40 the 850th episode of the show.
Two perfectly round numbers that sit pretty on a marketing PowerPoint… it almost feels planned.
Of course, fans have a right to be cautious. The show has gone through many milestones before that they suspected would be the end, and it hasn’t happened yet.
Disney
There is even an argument that they could try to push to 1,000 episodes, which would be exactly ten more seasons… but that feels like a real stretch, and puts the show in danger of becoming stale and overtired once again. In addition, Harry Shearer would actually be quite close in age to one of his most famous characters, Mr. Burns, by that point.
However, if audiences know that the end is coming thanks to the publicity and attention driven by the movie, then The Simpsons may get a real renaissance in love – and that’s something that Disney will benefit from.
Besides more subscriptions to Disney+ for the new entries (something the company may be seeking after the whole Jimmy Kimmel fiasco), we could see merch sales go up, and more visits to theme parks across the world. There are economic benefits to the 850 theory.
It would also prevent the show from simply fizzling out and becoming unprofitable, leading to a lacklustre cancellation. The Simpsons deserves more than that. It’s a staple of pop culture, the backbone of many jokes across generations, and a planned send-off is not just due but sitting ripe for the taking.
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