Good News, Everyone... Or Maybe Not?

Comedy Central has decided that Futurama deserves the Family Guy treatment. The four straight-to-DVD movies were great, but what we've really wanted was the show to come back all together. Wish granted! Comedy Central has ordered 26 new episodes to be aired over two seasons. We can thank the positive DVD sales and large viewership of the reruns for this, and it is well deserved. When it first aired on TV ages ago, I was fairly indifferent about the show, but as the years rolled on, it grew into one of my three favorite cartoon shows. We can look to find the new episodes airing sometime mid-2010.

Here's the possibly not so great news. The budget for the show has been cut, and the original voice actors' salary requirements are too high, so they may be getting replaced. All of them! This could be devastating, as I doubt the show can be the same with that many new voices. Family Guy got away with changing the voice actress for Meg, but that was one character, and this is everyone. There is one small sliver of hope though. Back when The Simpsons was debating getting new voice actors, they held auditions, but the original cast ultimately worked a deal. There is still a chance the same could happen here, even if it's just for a few of the members. Honestly, can Bender or Fry really be voiced by someone new? Only time will tell, but until then, my fingers will be crossed.

UPDATE (7/31): Various sources are reporting that the cast has indeed signed new contracts, ending fears the show would loose all of its familiar voices.