Few shows have had the kind of longevity that Futurama has had. Still, it’s drawn the short straw in the pantheon of American animated classics. The Simpsons, King of the Hill, South Park, and Family Guy are pretty much considered the peak of animated comedies. Even if Family Guy doesn’t really deserve to be on that… still, they’ve all had longer runs than Futurama. Especially now that King of the Hill has had a successful revival. But the adventures of Fry and his friends have been saved on multiple occasions. With its run coming to an end on Hulu, though, is this truly the final finale?
A Song of Cancellation and Renewal
Depending on how you look at it, Futurama has had either 11 or 14 seasons. The first four ran on Fox from 1999 to 2003. Eventually, four direct-to-video movies were released for the series. These were edited into individual episodes that comprise the 5th season, and the first to air on Comedy Central. Two more seasons were produced for the cable channel, though they were cut into 13-episode broadcast seasons. These ran from 2010 to 2013. A decade later, Hulu renewed the show again for four additional seasons that just wrapped up on September 29, 2026. So there ya go, 11 or 14 seasons of content. 10 or 13 if you don’t count the “movie” season.
Regardless, it shows you just how much this show is beloved and yet not loved enough. American Dad has been running for 20 straight years, but Futurama has to fight for its relevancy and existence. It’s a sad world we live in. Hulu hasn’t announced any further seasons, so it appears the program is done and over with. Well, with the exception of some special episodes they have lined up. Three “XXXL” episodes will be coming to the streamer, with creator Matt Groening confirming that one of them will be a Christmas episode. After that though? It’s anyone’s guess.
Groening Comments on Futurama‘s Future
Groening himself is not concerned. “They can put us in a coffin. They can nail the lid shut, but they can’t bury us. We will rise again,” he stated. “We have lots more stories to tell. The animators and the actors and the writers all would love to do more stories and we’ll see. You never know.” Long-time producer David X. Cohen has an overall positive vision regardless. “In my mind, if we go off the air, the characters are still having their adventures and interesting things are still happening.” He continues, “And I like to leave the audience thinking that there’s beautiful things ahead for these characters, whether or not we get to see them.”
There’s something to be said about Cohen’s philosophy. With a series like Futurama, it doesn’t need a definitive end. It’s not as if there was some super grandiose, overarching narrative. They’ve had some amazing stories. Some intensely heartfelt ones. But there’s always been more to come. That’s something that more shows should embrace with a finale. Just because the show is over doesn’t mean the lives of the characters have to drastically change. Sometimes a happy ending is just knowing that tomorrow will bring new adventures with those we love. Even if it’s not broadcast.
Will the three super episodes spark a renewal? Probably not. While you never know what the future will bring, this might be a wrap for regular Futurama seasons. If that’s the case, it’s not “sad news, everyone.” It’s just a job well done.
