Moviefone Editorial

Tag: the-simpsons

  • New ‘The Simpsons’ Movie Sets 2027 Release Date

    2007's 'The Simpsons Movie'. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
    2007’s ‘The Simpsons Movie’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.

    Preview:

    • Disney has confirmed ‘The Simpsons Movie’ sequel will arrive in 2027.
    • The studio offered no other details.
    • This new movie has been in development for a few years.

    Despite the series’ enduring lifespan –– ‘The Simpsons’ premiered its 37th season this past year, having debuted all the way back in 1989 –– 2027 seems less like striking while the iron is hot and more waiting until it is practically ice cold to the touch in terms of following up the show’s cinematic debut, ‘The Simpsons Movie‘.

    Still, that’s not bothering Disney, which has scheduled a July 2027 release (20 years on from the first, in fact), for what is currently without a formal title.

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    Not much is known about the movie at this point, but we can expect the likes of lead voice cast Dan Castellaneta as Homer Simpson, Julie Kavner as Marge, Nancy Cartwright as Bart and Yeardley Smith as Lisa to return.

    Related Article: Report: Fox Is Planning Another ‘Simpsons’ Movie

    What was the story of ‘The Simpsons Movie’?

    2007's 'The Simpsons Movie'. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
    2007’s ‘The Simpsons Movie’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.

    The 2007 entry saw the Environmental Protection Agency encasing the Simpsons’ hometown of Springfield in a dome after Homer taints the area’s water supply.

    It also introduced the world to Spider-Pig, AKA Plopper.

    What will happen in the new movie?

    2007's 'The Simpsons Movie'. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
    2007’s ‘The Simpsons Movie’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.

    Disney and the ‘Simpsons’ team are staying quiet about the story in the new movie, but we can figure it’ll feature more silly adventures for the titular family and the wider world of Springfield.

    Matt Groening, confirming that the team had turned its attention to a second movie way back in 2019 at Comic-Con, had this to say at the time:

    “The first ‘Simpsons Movie’ almost killed us. We didn’t have a B-team waiting to do ‘The Simpsons Movie,’ so the same people who wrote, animated, voiced and did the music for ‘The Simpsons’ TV show also did the movie. That was in 2007. We’re almost recovered, almost.”

    When will ‘The Simpsons Movie’ sequel be in theaters?

    Per Disney’s announcement, the new movie is scheduled to take over the spot previously filled by an untitled Marvel movie: July 23rd, 2027 (was the Marvel movie ‘Blade’? Enquiring minds want to know and also sigh).

    Right now the main competition is a Warners animated musical called ‘Bad Fairies’. Will one blink and shift dates? Watch this space…

    2007's 'The Simpsons Movie'. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
    2007’s ‘The Simpsons Movie’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.

    List of Movies Adapted from TV Series:

    Buy ‘The Simpsons’ Movies and TV on Amazon

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  • ‘Cheers’ Actor George Wendt Dies Aged 76

    George Wendt in 'Cheers'. Photo: NBC.
    George Wendt in ‘Cheers’. Photo: NBC.

    Preview:

    • George Wendt has died aged 76.
    • He’s most famous for playing ‘Cheers’ barfly Norm.
    • The actor also appeared in the likes of ‘Forever Young’ and ‘Fletch.’

    George Wendt, who will be forever identified as one of the most beloved sitcom characters of all time –– barfly Norm Peterson in ‘Cheers,’ has died.

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    His family confirmed his passing with the following statement via the actor’s representation:

    “George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him. He will be missed forever. The family has requested privacy during this time.”

    Related Article: Actor Joe Don Baker, Known for ‘Walking Tall,’ Dies at the Age of 89

    George Wendt: Early Life

    (L to R) Chris Farley, Robert Smigel, Mike Myers and George Wendt on 'Saturday Night Live'. Photo: Broadway Video.
    (L to R) Chris Farley, Robert Smigel, Mike Myers and George Wendt on ‘Saturday Night Live’. Photo: Broadway Video.

    Born in October Chicago 1948 and raised on the South Side, George Robert Wendt Jr. was one of nine kids.

    His father owned a real estate agency that his dad had founded, and his mother, Loretta, was a housewife and longtime volunteer and fundraiser for Little Company of Mary Hospital.

    Wendt attended Campion High School, a Jesuit boarding school for boys in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, and then Notre Dame — until he was expelled as a junior.

    This is what he told David Letterman about it in 1990:

    “I was a very poor student. I got kicked out of Notre Dame. I’m very proud to mention my grade-point average that got me booted out: zero-point-zero-zero. I just hung out and didn’t go to classes.”

    For a time, Wendt worked for his father, excelling in “getting coffee for the secretaries,” before earning a B.A. in economics in 1971 from another Jesuit school, Rockhurst College in Kansas City, Missouri. But then he hung out in Europe for the better part of three years.

    For Wendt, his true calling was in performing: he got his start in the 1970s with Second City, the famed improvisational comedy troupe that was based in his hometown.

    Following his success, he popped up on ‘Saturday Night Live’ as Bob Swerski, one of the “superfans” who gathered at Coach Mike Ditka’s restaurant in the Windy City to watch “Da Bears.”

    Small roles in movies such as ‘My Bodyguard’ and ‘Somewhere in Time’ helped get him on screen, but it was on TV where he truly shined.

    George Wendt: TV Roles

    The cast of 'Cheers'. Photo: NBC.
    The cast of ‘Cheers’. Photo: NBC.

    There is only one place to start when it comes to Wendt’s small screen legacy: ‘Cheers.’

    Following a small role as an exterminator on ‘Taxi’ –– created and run by the team who would then bring ‘Cheers’ to screens –– his guy-next-door persona and easy, charismatic delivery won him appreciation from fans and castmates as he played the lovable lug Norm, an accountant by trade, on every installment the sitcom during its 1982-93 run.

    He received Emmy nominations for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series for six consecutive years.

    This is what he told The Washington Post about the day-to-day work of filming and the downside to his barfly role:

    “There I was slamming those down for a whole day. It not only tastes disgusting, I was afraid of keeling over from high blood pressure. Then I got the knack. I didn’t have to put all those brews away. It only mattered when the camera was pointing my way. It took a couple of years, but now I watch the camera. That’s how I make my money. That’s acting.”

    Norm became a pop culture favorite, and Wendt showed up as the character over the years on ‘St. Elsewhere,’ ‘Wings,’ ‘The Simpsons,’ ‘Family Guy,’ and Cheers’ spin-offs ‘Frasier’ and ‘The Tortellis.’

    When ‘Cheers’ ended its run, NBC considered a spinoff featuring Wendt and Ratzenberger as bar buddies, but the show never materialized. Instead, he starred for CBS in 1995 in ‘The George Wendt Show,’ playing the co-owner of a Wisconsin garage and co-host of a call-in radio show about car repair, but the comedy lasted just six episodes.

    Aside from his live action appearances, he had roles in several more TV series including ‘Columbo,’ ‘Becker,’ ‘Outside Providence,’ and appeared as himself on ‘Seinfeld.’

    George Wendt: Movie Roles

    George Wendt in 'Fletch'. Photo: Universal Pictures.
    George Wendt in ‘Fletch’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

    While Wendt’s film career was much less full than his busy TV appearances, he had a few notable roles.

    His movies included ‘Dreamscape’, ‘House,’ ‘Fletch,’ ‘Gung Ho,’  ‘Guilty by Suspicion,’ ‘Forever Young’ and ‘Spice World.’

    Wendt is survived by his wife, actress Bernadette Birkett, whom he married in July 1978 — they met at Second City, and she was the unseen, offscreen voice of Norm’s wife, Vera, on ‘Cheers’ — his children, Hilary, Joe and Daniel and his stepchildren, Joshua and Andrew.

    Jason Sudeikis in 'Ted Lasso,' now streaming on Apple TV+.
    Jason Sudeikis in ‘Ted Lasso,’ now streaming on Apple TV+.

    And, on a note of trivia: nephew (and ‘Ted Lasso’ co-creator/star) Jason Sudeikis, who is the son of one of Wendt’s sisters.

    This is how National Comedy Center Executive Director Journey Gunderson summed him up in a statement:

    “From his early days with The Second City to his iconic role as Norm on Cheers, George Wendt’s work showcased how comedy can create indelible characters that feel like family. His work is proudly featured in the National Comedy Center, and we honor his legacy and the joy he brought to generations of fans.”

    (L to R) Jim Belushi, Kevin Nealon, Dan Aykroyd, George Wendt, and Jon Lovitz in 'A History of the World in Six Glasses'. Photo: Fox Nation.
    (L to R) Jim Belushi, Kevin Nealon, Dan Aykroyd, George Wendt, and Jon Lovitz in ‘A History of the World in Six Glasses’. Photo: Fox Nation.

    George Wendt Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy George Wendt TV Shows and Movies On Amazon

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  • Billie Eilish to Meet ‘The Simpsons’ in New Short

    Lisa Simpson and Billie Eilish
    ‘The Simpsons: When Billie Met Lisa’ will begin streaming on Disney+ April 22nd.

    Sure, winning Grammy Awards, an Oscar, selling lots of records and becoming the youngest person to headline giant festival Coachella is nice and all, but what young stars really want to do is crop up on ‘The Simpsons’. Or, at least, that’s what music superstar Billie Eilish and brother Finneas will do – and in a special all their own.

    Yes, eschewing the usual cameo voice on a regular ‘Simpsons’ episode, Eilish and her producing/co-writing sibling O’Connell will appear in a new Disney+ short called ‘The Simpsons: When Billie Met Lisa’.

    The official synopsis reads, “Lisa Simpson is discovered by the chart-topping artists while searching for a quiet place to practice her saxophone. Billie then invites Lisa to her studio for a special jam session she’ll never forget.” Will she be… happier than ever? (Billie’s latest tour is called… you can probably figure the next bit out).

    Though the days of appearing on the long-running animated series (there are fans of Eilish who weren’t born when it debuted) carrying the same cultural clout are probably passed, it’s still considered cool to show up as yourself alongside Springfield’s finest.

    Lisa Simpson and Billie Eilish
    ‘The Simpsons: When Billie Met Lisa’ will begin streaming on Disney+ April 22nd.

    This is just the latest Simpsons-themed short, the fourth a series created for Disney+ to highlight the streaming service’s marquee brands and most popular content. The previously released videos include ‘Star Wars’ and Marvel-themed tie-ins ‘Maggie Simpson in The Force Awakens From its Nap’ and ‘The Good, The Bart, and the Loki’ as well as ‘The Simpsons in Plusaversary’ which was released in November last year to celebrate Disney Plus Day. Never ones to pass up a good opportunity to cross-promote its brands, we can expect more from the House of Mouse.

    One small downside is fan concerns: when the short was announced, social media lit up with worries that this could bear comparison with 2012 episode ‘Lisa Goes Gaga’, which saw the character meet Lady Gaga. Critics and audiences roundly panned that musical crossover, and it is routinely voted among the worst the series has to offer – which is saying a lot for a show with 723 episodes and counting on the books.

    Also in question – will Eilish be debuting new music in the short? It’s as good a launchpad opportunity as any, though given that she’s on tour right now, that seems less likely.

    Eilish and O’Connell have won seven Grammys from 17 nominations and this past March celebrated their first Oscar win via their work on the song for Bond movie ‘No Time to Die’.

    ‘The Simpsons’, meanwhile, has been on the air for 35 years since launching as shorts on ‘The Tracey Ullman Show’ in 1987 before graduating to its own series in 1989. Disney bought the rights to the characters and their back catalogue along with the rest of 20th Century Fox in 2019.

    ‘The Simpsons: When Billie met Lisa’ will land on Disney+ on April 22nd.

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  • ‘The Simpsons’ Mocks Donald Trump With ‘West Wing Story’

    ‘The Simpsons’ Mocks Donald Trump With ‘West Wing Story’

    The Simpsons' West Wing Story still
    Animation on FOX/YouTube

    “The Simpsons” will kick off Season 31 (yes, 31!) this fall, and in the meantime, Fox has unveiled a new clip, a parody called “West Wing Story.”

    The 90-second video offers a fictional look into the White House, where a “Simpsons”-style Donald Trump is dealing with “so many problems.” One of those is the so-called “Squad” — Senators Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, and Rashida Tlaib — who emerge from a framed photo in the Oval Office as the cartoon Trump sings a satirical version of “America” from “West Side Story.” They start singing as well and chase him through the kitchen, the Situation Room, and more.

    Other political figures make appearances, too, including Vice President Mike Pence and the many 2020 Democratic candidates. If you’ve ever wanted to see animated versions of them in a kick line, now’s your chance. Watch below.

    “The Simpsons” Season 31 premieres Sunday, Sept. 29 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Fox.

  • Matt Groening Confirms ‘The Simpsons Movie’ Sequel Is Still Happening

    Matt Groening Confirms ‘The Simpsons Movie’ Sequel Is Still Happening

    The Simpsons
    Fox

    The long-awaited sequel to “The Simpsons Movie” is still in the works — even though Disney now owns the property.

    Last year, there were reports that 20 Century Fox was developing a sequel to the 2007 film, which brought Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie to the big screen. Then, Disney bought 20th Century Fox (a transaction that was foretold by “The Simpsons” in 1998, by the way) and the project was up in the air.

    But “Simpsons” creator Matt Groening confirmed at Comic-Con last weekend that the sequel is still a go.

    “No doubt there will be another Simpsons movie one of these days. I think Disney wants something for its money,” he said.

    In the first movie, Springfield was quarantined under a glass dome after Homer accidentally polluted the town’s lake. “The Simpsons Movie” was a hit, earning more than $527 million worldwide.

    We’ve wondered why a sequel wasn’t made sooner, but Groening has been candid in the years since about the production problems with the movie.

    “The first ‘Simpsons Movie’ almost killed us,” he said. “We didn’t have a B-team waiting to do ‘The Simpsons Movie,’ so the same people who wrote, animated, voiced and did the music for ‘The Simpsons’ TV show also did the movie. That was in 2007. We’re almost recovered, almost.”

    “The Simpsons” has already been renewed by Fox for Season 31 and Season 32. It is the longest-running sitcom in TV history.

    For all of our San Diego Comic Con coverage, please click here!

  • Happy Birthday, Danny Elfman! 11 Scores That Defined His Career

    Happy Birthday, Danny Elfman! 11 Scores That Defined His Career

    Disney

    If luminaries like Bernard Herrmann, Ennio Morricone, John Barry and John Williams embody an older, perhaps “classic” generation of film music, Danny Elfman, along with Stewart Copeland, Mark Mothersbaugh and others heralded the arrival of composers who began their career as pop and rock artists before transitioning into the work for which they have become best known – film scores. Elfman, born on May 29, was a member of the band Oingo Boingo for over 20 years, but began composing film music in the late 1970s before making his breakthrough with the score to his brother’s film “Forbidden Zone,” and three years later, the first of dozens of partnerships with Tim Burton on “Pee-wee’s Big Adventures.” In honor of Elfman’s birthday, we’re taking a look back at just a handful of the film and television projects that not only earned him acclaim, but cemented his status as one of the most beloved and recognizable composers in modern music.

    Warner Bros.

    “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure” (1985) – Searching for the sound of Paul Reubens’ whimsical road trip to recover a stolen bicycle, Elfman borrows from Nino Rota’s scores for “8 ½” and “The Clowns,” creating an indelible calling card that would establish him as one of Hollywood’s most idiosyncratic and instantly-recognizable composers.

    Warner Bros.

    “Beetlejuice” (1988) – Elfman’s next outing with Burton would not only become equally famous but helped establish the sound that defined much of his work for the next few years — gothic, mischievous music driven by propulsive, low-end brass and embellished by soaring choral arrangements.

    Warner Bros.

    “Batman” (1989) – Effectively setting a musical template for superhero movies that would help reintroduce them to audiences, Elfman won his first and only Grammy cribbing the main theme from Burton’s film from a few notes of Gottfried Huppertz’ “Die Nibelungen” for what remains one of the most identifiable superhero themes outside John Williams’ for “Superman.”

     

    20th Century Fox

    “The Simpsons” (1989) – Elfman made a detour into television with this, possibly one of the most famous themes in the medium’s history. Though Alf Clausen skillfully expanded it for the series, Elfman’s music dug in like an earworm, establishing the tone of the show for decades to come.

    20th Century Fox

    “Edward Scissorhands” (1990) – Burton and Elfman had become a bygone conclusion by 1990, when they teamed up for this Christmas-themed gothic romance that indulged the filmmaker’s outsider impulses for what became yet another signature work for both artists.

    Walt Disney Studios

    “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993) – Elfman worked triple duty as composer, songwriter and singer in this future Hot Topic favorite, providing the singing voice of its misguided hero Jack Skellington and proving his instincts as a performer in his own right were still as sharp as ever.

    Miramax

    “Good Will Hunting” (1997) – Elfman won his second Oscar nomination with this delicate, guitar-driven score for Gus Van Sant’s film about a troubled prodigy and his relationship with a scruffy therapist. Merging his sound with singer-songwriter Eliot Smith’s, Elfman broke new ground in his filmography and showcased his evolving versatility.

    Sony Pictures

    “Spider-Man” (2002) – Elfman again helped define a new era of superhero movie music with this distinctive and memorable score for Sam Raimi’s film. Raimi shares in common with Burton a unique, idiosyncratic personality as a filmmaker, which undoubtedly made him and Elfman great collaborators.

    Sony Pictures

    “Big Fish” (2003) – Burton’s then-most-mature film to date challenged Elfman to create something that combined the magic of the filmmaker’s earlier work with more somber and grounded tones, and he pulled it off, earning Oscar, Golden Globe and Grammy nominations for his work.

    Focus Features

    “Milk” (2008) – Another Van Sant collaboration, another nomination: Elfman once again complemented the filmmaker’s thoughtful, sensitive work with a score that communicated the drive and humanity of their real-life protagonist, nabbing Oscar and Grammy nods in the process.

    Warner Bros.

    “Justice League” (2017) – After more than 25 years as a composer, Elfman is so prolific that it’s hard to top himself, or to do something he hadn’t before. For Zack Snyder’s team-up film, Elfman beautifully combines music from his own repertoire (the ‘89s “Batman”) with work from other contemporary superhero films and an homage to Williams’ iconic ’78 “Superman” music for an irresistible mix tape of heroic themes.

  • ‘Simpsons’ Cast and Crew Reveal Their Dream Guest Stars, Spinoff Ideas

    ‘Simpsons’ Cast and Crew Reveal Their Dream Guest Stars, Spinoff Ideas

    The Simpsons
    Fox

    “The Simpsons” has had many luminaries as guest stars over its 30 seasons and 660 (and counting) episodes. But there’s still one guest they haven’t landed: a sitting president of the United States.

    Producers Matt Groening, James L. Brooks, Al Jean, and Matt Selman and stars Harry Shearer and Yeardley Smith gathered together at the Tribeca Film Festival for a panel saluting the show’s 30th anniversary. And when asked about their dream guest stars, Brooks picked Donald Trump.

    “We’ve never had a president, but I think I’d love to have this president if he’d read the script as written,” Brooks said as the audience laughed.

    Smith replied, “He’s not a good reader. Maybe if we just did it in pictures?”

    The others chose Tribeca Film Festival founder Robert De Niro (Groening), former MLB pitcher Sandy Koufax (Jean), Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau (Shearer), and “Monty Python’s” John Cleese and Michael Palin (Selman).

    They also had ideas for potential “Simpsons” spinoffs of characters. Shearer suggested Reverend Lovejoy, “because there’s never been, as far as I know, an American television show about a clergyman.”

    He continued, “It seems to me we’ve learned a lot about Ned, but Reverend Lovejoy and Helen have adventures still to be explored — you know, like his pre-Bible believing days when you rebel.”

    And if that doesn’t work? Shearer has another idea: “Otto in rehab.”

  • 14 Things You Never Knew About ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ on its 15th Anniversary

    14 Things You Never Knew About ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ on its 15th Anniversary

    Focus Features

    Whether you call it a romantic comedy, a science fiction movie, a dark character drama or something else entirely, there’s no denying that “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” is one of the great American films of the 21st Century. Celebrate the 15th anniversary of this Michel Gondry classic with some interesting facts you might not have known.

    1. The original screenplay depicts Clementine as becoming more emotionally withdrawn and robotic with each memory erasure. However, Kate Winslet opted to portray Clementine in a more straightforward fashion.

    2. Writer Charlie Kaufman became disillusioned when Christopher Nolan‘s “Memento” hit theaters and offered a similar premise revolving around memory loss. Producer Steve Golin convinced him to finish the screenplay anyway.

    Newmarket

    3. Gondry purposely worked to keep star Jim Carrey off-guard during production, including forbidding him from improvising and rolling the camera without telling Carrey. This was intended to help Carrey get into character as the nervous, uneasy Joel Barish.

    4. Gondry originally envisioned Nicolas Cage for the lead role, but found Cage to be in high demand in the wake of “Leaving Las Vegas.”

    United Artists

    5. For the scene in which Mark Ruffalo‘s Stan startles Kirsten Dunst‘s Mary, Gondry instructed Ruffalo to find a different hiding spot for each take in order to ensure Dunst remained genuinely scared each time.

    6. The film was parodied by “The Simpsons” in an episode called “Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind.” That episode won an Emmy award in 2008.

    Fox

    7. The opening credits don’t appear until a full 18 minutes into the film.

    8. Winslet relied on a series of wigs rather actually dyeing her hair. Because of Clementine’s constantly changing hair color and the nonlinear order in which the film as shot, dyeing would have been impractical.

    Focus Features

    9. The street parade sequence was unplanned and conceived on the spot. Because of this spontaneity, TV reporters appeared and attempted to interview Carrey during the middle of filming.

    10. The film features relatively little CGI for a sci-fi project. Even the scene of the house being washed away by the ocean actually required a partial set to be constructed on a beach.

    Focus Features

    11. Gondry cut an entire subplot from the film involving Joel having a one-night stand with his ex-girlfriend Naomi (played by Ellen Pompeo).

    12. The film’s title comes from the Alexander Pope poem “Eloisa to Abelard,” which was also featured in Kaufman’s previous screenplay, “Being John Malkovich.”

    13. While it’s no longer active, a fully functional website was created for fictional corporation Lacuna Inc.

    Focus Features

    14. In October 2016, Golin’s production company Anonymous Content and Universal Cable productions announced an “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” TV series, though the series has yet to materialize.

  • ‘The Simpsons’ Set for 2 More Seasons on Fox

    ‘The Simpsons’ Set for 2 More Seasons on Fox

    The Simpsons
    Fox

    Never underestimate the power of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie.

    “The Simpsons” continues to be the show that never ends. The long-running animated sitcom recently scored a two-season renewal from Fox. The network announced during a TCA event Wednesday that it had ordered Seasons 31 and 32.

    The Matt Groening-created series debuted in December 1989 and has been going strong ever since. It is currently airing its 30th season and has produced more episodes than any other primetime scripted series in TV history. “The Simpsons” secured that record by topping “Gunsmoke” during Season 29 and continues to add to its total. By the end of Season 32, the number will reach 713 episodes.

    The upcoming seasons will presumably continue to follow the lives of the hilarious Simpson family and those of their friends and fellow Springfield residents. We expect Season 31 to premiere in Fall 2019 and Season 32 to follow in Fall 2020.

    [via: Variety]

  • 30 Essential ‘The Simpsons’ Episodes to Watch for the 30th Anniversary

    30 Essential ‘The Simpsons’ Episodes to Watch for the 30th Anniversary