Futurama Recasting Main Characters (WTF?!)

News Type: Event — Seeded on Fri Jul 17, 2009 10:41 AM EDT

Article Source: facebook.com

entertainment, fox, comedy, cartoon, animation, boycott, futurama, bad-news-friday, voice-casting

This is wrong on *so many* levels. I can't think of a better way to guarantee that Futurama goes down in flames, and I can't see Matt Groening even agreeing to go forward with the show with a new cast.

I think there has to be something more to this story, because this is maybe the dumbest decision in the history of decisions made by studio executives. Hands down.

I don't usually support boycotts, as they're pointless: But man, does this ever merit a boycott.

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5.0

{"commentId":8262925,"authorDomain":"brianford"}

Brian Ford

Ugh, this is so ... disappointing.

{"commentId":8262925,"threadId":"628791","contentId":"3034016","authorDomain":"brianford"}

3 votes

#1 - Fri Jul 17, 2009 10:56 AM EDT

{"commentId":8263101,"authorDomain":"LadyKlitschko"}

Lady Klitschko

If this isn't some kind of sick, twisted and distorted idea of a joke, then this is an EPIC mistake on the executives' part. Someone needs to grind them down into a big batch of Torgo's Executive Powder. I have a hard time believing that execs could be so stupid as to switch an entire cast, but if it is so, I think that this will be the death of the series.

{"commentId":8263101,"threadId":"628791","contentId":"3034016","authorDomain":"LadyKlitschko"}

2 votes

#1.1 - Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:06 AM EDT

{"commentId":8263397,"authorDomain":"sgreenway"}

BAjunkie

NOOOO! I even got my Futurama desktop wallpaper as tribute to the show being uncancelled...

{"commentId":8263397,"threadId":"628791","contentId":"3034016","authorDomain":"sgreenway"}

4 votes

#1.2 - Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:20 AM EDT

{"commentId":8276291,"authorDomain":"eriqalan"}

eriq samson

Don't get in such an uproar - it may be that some of the originals (i.e. katey sagal) might not be available. Any business looks for backups.

The INTERPRETATION that they are wholesale recasting is just that, an interpretation (see also: rumor) there is NO evidence that they are doing so.

{"commentId":8276291,"threadId":"628791","contentId":"3034016","authorDomain":"eriqalan"}

1 vote

#1.3 - Sat Jul 18, 2009 12:53 AM EDT

{"commentId":8276452,"authorDomain":"brianford"}

Brian Ford

Yes. No evidence except a casting call requesting samples for the main characters, and one of the original cast members confirming the casting call as "very real".

{"commentId":8276452,"threadId":"628791","contentId":"3034016","authorDomain":"brianford"}

1 vote

#1.4 - Sat Jul 18, 2009 1:14 AM EDT

{"commentId":8285413,"authorDomain":"eriqalan"}

eriq samson

again not paying attention - this is standard practice; they had backups during the original series as well; if something happens to your primary characters you need a backup

{"commentId":8285413,"threadId":"628791","contentId":"3034016","authorDomain":"eriqalan"}

1 vote

#1.5 - Sat Jul 18, 2009 7:31 PM EDT

{"commentId":8286929,"authorDomain":"brianford"}

Brian Ford

Whatever you say, guy.

{"commentId":8286929,"threadId":"628791","contentId":"3034016","authorDomain":"brianford"}

1 vote

#1.6 - Sat Jul 18, 2009 9:58 PM EDT

{"commentId":8315287,"authorDomain":"brianford"}

Brian Ford

Whadya know. It looks like you may have been right.

Oh, wait. No. The other thing.

You know. The one that's kind of like being right, except, you know, the opposite of that.

I think what I meant was that it was me who was right, not you.

My mistake.

{"commentId":8315287,"threadId":"628791","contentId":"3034016","authorDomain":"brianford"}

2 votes

#1.7 - Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:04 PM EDT

{"commentId":8263236,"authorDomain":"jsunshine122"}

RNoel-525230

Hmm...not sure if I trust a Facebook casting call, or an interview that David X. Cohen had with Wired on June 12, 2009 where he states, "Obviously, we're not going to recast it." For now, I'm going to assume that this is a hoax, because the alternative would just depress me.

Also, check out this link to Variety, which states that Billy West, Katey Sagal, and John DiMaggio have signed on to return.

{"commentId":8263236,"threadId":"628791","contentId":"3034016","authorDomain":"jsunshine122"}

3 votes

#2 - Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:13 AM EDT

{"commentId":8263274,"authorDomain":"brianford"}

Brian Ford

Phil LaMarr is the voice of Hermes, and he says it's "very real" though i'm not sure where the casting call was initially posted. He's re-posted it to his facebook site.

{"commentId":8263274,"threadId":"628791","contentId":"3034016","authorDomain":"brianford"}

3 votes

#2.1 - Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:14 AM EDT

{"commentId":8263376,"authorDomain":"brianford"}

Brian Ford

But, I agree that there's something incredibly fishy going on.

{"commentId":8263376,"threadId":"628791","contentId":"3034016","authorDomain":"brianford"}

2 votes

#2.2 - Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:19 AM EDT

{"commentId":8263412,"authorDomain":"LadyKlitschko"}

Lady Klitschko

I sure hope you're right, RNoel. That would kill the series for sure if they recast it.

{"commentId":8263412,"threadId":"628791","contentId":"3034016","authorDomain":"LadyKlitschko"}

2 votes

#2.3 - Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:21 AM EDT

{"commentId":8263463,"authorDomain":"jsunshine122"}

RNoel-525230

Do you really think they'd re-cast the lead characters by letting everyone and their grandma send in MP3 files as e-mail attachments, though? I'm not going to pretend to know how voice casting for an animated series works, but I'd have to imagine that the creators would have some voice talent names in mind...people in the industry who've done previous work, not just some schmucks off the street who e-mailed their voice work in an attachment. I doubt they'd even cast bit characters that way. Plus, they have to know it'd piss off the hardcore fans who are their target audience.

{"commentId":8263463,"threadId":"628791","contentId":"3034016","authorDomain":"jsunshine122"}

2 votes

#2.4 - Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:23 AM EDT

{"commentId":8263519,"authorDomain":"brianford"}

Brian Ford

Again, fishy.

For sure.

And I think if we knew the source of the casting call, we'd know the answer to how authentic this actually is, or isn't. I suppose it's possible that LaMarr is having some fun, or that someone else has fooled LaMarr, but for now, his statement that it's "very real" is enough for me to @!$%# about it, and if it turns out that it's a hoax (which I think is about a 50/50 shot, right now) I'll 1) be relieved and 2) not feel *too* bad about being taken in, given LaMarr's involvement.

{"commentId":8263519,"threadId":"628791","contentId":"3034016","authorDomain":"brianford"}

3 votes

#2.5 - Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:25 AM EDT

{"commentId":8263613,"authorDomain":"jsunshine122"}

RNoel-525230

Fair enough. Honestly, I'm trying hard to find any fault with this news, because (like everyone else) I just don't want it to be true.

{"commentId":8263613,"threadId":"628791","contentId":"3034016","authorDomain":"jsunshine122"}

2 votes

#2.6 - Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:30 AM EDT

{"commentId":8263642,"authorDomain":"brianford"}

Brian Ford

By source, I mean -- where it was originally posted. The people listed on the casting call are actually people who have been involved in casting in the past, and there are actual addresses listed (both email and physical addresses) so, if it's a hoax, someone did at least a bit of homework on IMDB.com before posting it, but again, unless LaMarr picked up the casting call from a legit source, I can't imagine him falling for a hoax unless, of course, he's the source of, or in on, the hoax.

{"commentId":8263642,"threadId":"628791","contentId":"3034016","authorDomain":"brianford"}

3 votes

#2.7 - Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:31 AM EDT

{"commentId":8264141,"authorDomain":"AdrianThorn"}

Adrian Thorn

I can't actually see the article (my work blocks facebook) but is it possible that they're going to be ADDING characters, rather than recasting the whole crew?

{"commentId":8264141,"threadId":"628791","contentId":"3034016","authorDomain":"AdrianThorn"}

3 votes

#3 - Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:57 AM EDT

{"commentId":8264235,"authorDomain":"brianford"}

Brian Ford

Well, if the article is legit, it definitely asserts that they will be recasting the main characters.

{"commentId":8264235,"threadId":"628791","contentId":"3034016","authorDomain":"brianford"}

2 votes

#3.1 - Fri Jul 17, 2009 12:02 PM EDT

{"commentId":8264888,"authorDomain":"SignsofEquality"}

Greg&Jeff

Perhaps this is just all some sort of viral marketing campaign to get everyone talking about the show again????

{"commentId":8264888,"threadId":"628791","contentId":"3034016","authorDomain":"SignsofEquality"}

3 votes

#4 - Fri Jul 17, 2009 12:35 PM EDT

{"commentId":8264954,"authorDomain":"HeelsnHairMetal"}

HeelsnHairMetal

I hope this isnt true. I would most definitely stop watching

{"commentId":8264954,"threadId":"628791","contentId":"3034016","authorDomain":"HeelsnHairMetal"}

2 votes

#5 - Fri Jul 17, 2009 12:38 PM EDT

{"commentId":8267399,"authorDomain":"tragicstory"}

Tragic Story

29 minutes ago Phil LaMarr wrote:

It's a negotiating ploy by 20th Century Fox studio. It's the same thing they did w/ the Simpsons several years ago. They're hoping to scare the actors into accepting lower pay.
They don't think that it matters to the audience who is doing the voices. If people's emails don't convince them, maybe they'll find out at the Comic-Con panel next week.

So I'm not too worried yet.

{"commentId":8267399,"threadId":"628791","contentId":"3034016","authorDomain":"tragicstory"}

2 votes

#6 - Fri Jul 17, 2009 2:52 PM EDT

{"commentId":8268016,"authorDomain":"brianford"}

Brian Ford

Yeah. Good to know. That was my *first* guess.

What worries me, of course, is that Fox is playing games already, and it's not a good sign of what's coming. Fox will probably screw it all up, as usual.

{"commentId":8268016,"threadId":"628791","contentId":"3034016","authorDomain":"brianford"}

2 votes

#6.1 - Fri Jul 17, 2009 3:29 PM EDT

{"commentId":8271664,"authorDomain":"tragicstory"}

Tragic Story

I hate Fox with a passion. I swear Fox executives think their views are all sado-masochists and think that by torturing our favorite shows they are actually giving us what we want.

On an aside: I really, really wish Phil Hartman had lived to voice Zap.

{"commentId":8271664,"threadId":"628791","contentId":"3034016","authorDomain":"tragicstory"}

1 vote

#6.2 - Fri Jul 17, 2009 7:02 PM EDT

{"commentId":8271842,"authorDomain":"brianford"}

Brian Ford

I suppose Hartman would have been good in the role, but frankly, I love it as it is, and can't imagine the voice being much better.

{"commentId":8271842,"threadId":"628791","contentId":"3034016","authorDomain":"brianford"}

2 votes

#6.3 - Fri Jul 17, 2009 7:13 PM EDT

{"commentId":8267447,"authorDomain":"canis"}

Canis Lupus

The long-time cast probably banded together (ala the Friends cast several years ago) and asked for a significant raise thinking that the producers wouldn't dare let all of them go - and just give in to their demands. Just a guess, though.

A great rule of thumb in life is: when something just doesn't make sense and defies reason, look at the money involved because someone somewhere is most likely making out like a bandit (in this case, the producers, saving millions of dollars on salaries).

{"commentId":8267447,"threadId":"628791","contentId":"3034016","authorDomain":"canis"}

2 votes

#7 - Fri Jul 17, 2009 2:55 PM EDT

{"commentId":8267868,"authorDomain":"charles4000"}

analog ninja

clearly more to come on this...

{"commentId":8267868,"threadId":"628791","contentId":"3034016","authorDomain":"charles4000"}

1 vote

#8 - Fri Jul 17, 2009 3:20 PM EDT

{"commentId":8269970,"authorDomain":"animallovernwriter"}

Auteur 1536

Oh the horror!

{"commentId":8269970,"threadId":"628791","contentId":"3034016","authorDomain":"animallovernwriter"}

1 vote

#9 - Fri Jul 17, 2009 5:15 PM EDT

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"628791","isPrivate":false}

BRIAN FORD

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Futurama Recasting Main Characters (WTF?!)

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