The Simpsons executive producer teases potential Hit and Run game sequel: “I had no idea it would become a cult game”

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Remember 2003? Beyond all the popular movies and music, one game everyone was talking about was The Simpsons: Hit and Run.

I still remember when Hit and Run first came out in the early 2000s, and it’s amazing how much fun it still is! Whether you played it back then or discovered it more recently thanks to all the nostalgia for classic games, it really was a brilliant spin-off. Seriously, who would’ve thought running around as Homer, Marge, Lisa, or even Apu, trying to figure out what’s going on in Springfield, could be so enjoyable?

Well, after 23 years, fans of the game now have an update on a potential revival of the game.

In an interview with People magazine marking the 800th episode of The Simpsons, showrunner and writer Matt Selman didn’t rule out a potential revival of the video game Hit and Run, stating, “Never say never.”

Okay, so it’s not a straight answer, but honestly, it sounds like he’s thinking about it, which is a good sign! It gives me hope that it might actually happen, even if he’s still considering all his options.

Selman reflected on the lasting impact of the game, explaining that he worked on ‘Hit & Run’ when he was in his twenties and never anticipated it would become a beloved classic. He noted that out of all the many Simpsons games created, this one stands out.

Man, it feels like ages ago, but I remember being in a meeting with the game’s creators right when Grand Theft Auto III dropped. We were all thinking, ‘We need to make this game feel like that – players have to be able to jump in and out of cars!’ But they were really resistant to the idea. It was a big fight, honestly, trying to convince them. Thankfully, we won! It just makes the game so much more fun to be able to mess around with cars like that.

According to Selman, Hit and Run successfully blends the familiar, unpredictable world of The Simpsons with the exciting, high-stakes gameplay of Grand Theft Auto. Like GTA, the game heavily features driving, including numerous driving missions and the challenge of finding hidden vehicles.

As the title ‘Hit and Run’ suggests, the game really let you cause mayhem – from kicking pedestrians and destroying Springfield, to running people over with your car. But, if you went too far, the police would quickly give chase.

The game’s story felt similar to a spooky Halloween episode of the show, with odd things happening all over Springfield – like mysterious vans, security cameras, and crop circles appearing. Players eventually discover that all of this is connected to alien activity as they explore the game’s open world.

Because the first Hit and Run game was so popular, a sequel was planned. However, despite some early development work, it was never actually made.

During a 2023 interview with MinnMax, John Melchior, producer of the game Hit and Run, shared that after its release, plans existed to create two more Simpsons games. Vivendi Universal Games, the publisher, had the opportunity to commission up to five games but ultimately decided against it.

According to Melchior, Radical Entertainment was slated to develop a sequel to The Simpsons Hit & Run. He also mentioned that Matt Groening proposed a medieval-themed Simpsons game, which Stormfront Studios was going to work on after finishing their Lord of the Rings project.

The biggest mistake Vivendi made was passing up the opportunity to license The Simpsons. They actually had a proposal on the table – five games for a reasonable price – but turned it down, especially considering how well their game Hit & Run had performed.

Although the last attempt didn’t work out, fans are hopeful that recent comments from Selman suggest a possible future for Hit and Run.

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Authors

Morgan CormackDrama Writer

Morgan Cormack writes about TV and streaming drama for TopMob. Before that, she was an Entertainment Writer at Stylist. She also has experience in content marketing and freelancing, and holds a BA degree in English Literature.

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2026-03-14 13:35