The Simpsons Is Going Through a Big Change for Future Seasons

In an unprecedented move, “The Simpsons” has been extended up to Season 40 as part of a groundbreaking agreement with Fox. However, this long-running animated series is set to undergo significant changes as it ventures into its upcoming seasons. Last year, Fox disclosed plans to pour more resources into their successful adult animation franchises, granting four-year renewals for “The Simpsons”, “Bob’s Burgers”, “Family Guy” and “American Dad!”. This decision not only secured the future of “American Dad!” but also hinted at some alterations to come.

Due to Fox adjusting their broadcast timetable for the Animation Domination block, they’re going to move shows around more than usual. To maintain their seasonal releases, they had to make these changes and tighten up the scheduling, which seems to have happened. The creators of The Simpsons, in a recent interview with Variety, have revealed that the upcoming seasons will be shorter than before, with only 17 episodes planned instead.

The Simpsons Is Going to Have Shorter Seasons From Now On

At this year’s Annecy International Film Festival, the creative team behind The Simpsons gave fans a sneak peek into the future of the series. They announced that the show has been renewed for four more seasons, but these will only consist of 17 episodes in total. Out of these 17 episodes, 15 are intended to air on Fox, while the remaining two will be exclusive to Disney+. As it stands, Matt Selman, the current showrunner for The Simpsons, confirmed that “For the next four [seasons], we’re doing 17 a year,” and emphasized that it’s still a full-time job.

With The Simpsons crew discussing their workload (the reason why a new Simpsons Movie sequel hasn’t been started yet despite fan requests for years), it doesn’t matter that they no longer produce 22-episode seasons; the time commitment remains substantial due to the complex narratives they now create for both Fox and Disney+. Fans have noticed this evolution with the introduction of alternate universes, extended episodes, anthologies, and many other forms of storytelling so far.

What Does This Mean for The Simpsons?

Over the past few years, “The Simpsons” has been on a remarkable run, with its most recent episodes being among the best it has ever produced. A significant factor contributing to this success is the innovative approach that defines its current era. Since there are fewer episodes now, each one broadcast becomes more impactful. This latest season provided fresh perspectives of all characters, and we eagerly anticipate seeing more of these in the coming seasons.

Previously, Selman hinted at upcoming episodes in Season 37 of The Simpsons, saying, “We’re enjoying exploring the depths of our secondary characters,” Selman shared. “There will be a Chalmers episode where he transforms into a sort of manosphere influencer peddling male grooming products. We have an exceptional Lisa and Marge show focusing on the trendy culture of thrifting, which the youngsters love. Another character we delve into is Professor Frink. We’ll uncover some aspects of his emotional past – that’s intriguing. There’s one episode about the Quimby family, where we creatively explore their background.

HT – Variety

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2025-06-15 21:09

The Simpsons Is Going to Have Shorter Seasons From Now On

What Does This Mean for The Simpsons?

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