Good(ish) News Everyone. Futurama's Coming Back
- Thread starter StCoop
- Start date
The characterisation that DiMaggio can imbue with subtle changes in his voice is amazing - although so are the rest of the cast. It'd be hard to rank them so I won't try. It's DiMaggio choice but I suspect this is a stunt.
Any level of subscription gets you the original series, Live TV pretty much just gets you a few new TV series that aren't available under the lower level subscriptions. I looked for Resident Alien before the new season and that's one of the Live TV only series.
It's hard for me to weigh in on how I'd feel about more Futurama without DiMaggio without knowing the reasons why he wouldn't be returning. If it's money, and he wants more than the rest of the cast, then I'd almost watch the show simply to flip the bird to him.
If there's IMO more valid reasons as to why he wouldn't return, that's something else.
If there's IMO more valid reasons as to why he wouldn't return, that's something else.
Honestly, Futurama never really recaptured the original magic in my opinion during its first revival. It had a few good episodes, but it also had some of the worst episodes of the entire series and was feeling very tired by the time it ended. At this point, I feel like another revival is pushing the show toward being modern Simpsons. All of that and the possibility of a recast Bender makes me very disinterested in watching the return.
He is campaigning for the entire cast.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/deadli...ing-futurama-bender-statement-1234934671/amp/
Futurama lasted seven seasons (after one cancellation). It's not unusual for a cast member to make a big ask to stick around that long. That's usually why long-running shows eventually end. The talent wants more than the studio is willing to spend. Nobody is the villain here.
Educated guess - he is probably making the least money from his other work compared to Billy West and Katey Sagal.
Billy West is the closest there is to a modern day Mel Blanc. He does everything. Including the M&M commercials. Commercials are where the big money in television is. Doing a voice in Futurama has always been a side job for Katey Sagal. She is big time actress who has appeared on camera in multiple shows.
Most likely John DiMaggio is fighting for the principal of paying voice actors more money as much as for himself. Hoping to set a precedent for the future.
There is a huge misconception that every actor working in film and tv are rich. Most go from job to job. With no pay in between. Voice actors have it the worst. Because often the networks and studios feel they are disposable. That anyone can do an impersonation for less money. That is why a lot of other voice actors are publicly saying they will not do Bender’s voice. Because it could happen to them too.
There is very small group of actors whose specialty is doing voices. That is their whole career. But in recent years it’s become a marketing angle to cast big name actors. Who often are not that good at it. It is a special skill set. They do not need this work.
Obviously there are notable exceptions of name actors who are brilliant at voice acting. Career voice actors do not resent them at all. They see them as one of their own.
Honestly I feel Futurama played out its good ideas a long time ago. I am even less interested if John DiMaggio does not return.
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DiMaggio & his wife tweeted this a few days back, saying it was the best breakdown of what happened:
https://ew.com/tv/futurama-john-dimaggio-wont-voice-bender-revival-for-now/
Basically, DiMaggio, West, and Sagal had a favoured nation clause & were negotiating together - what one person gets the others get. The contract offer went out and DiMaggio felt it was a low ball considering the legacy of Futurama and his & the rest of the casts experience and wages competitive to other series' (keep in mindDiMaggio is the only one also currently working on Disenchantment I've been corrected, West is in it he's just not playing a series lead character - for Groening & Cohen, he knows what they're paying on their other animated shows). He refused. West & Sagal broke the pact and accepted the rate DiMaggio felt was too low. DiMaggio won't come back for the lower rate, Hulu won't pay DiMaggio more than West & Sagal. Hulu won't pay West and Sagal more to match what DiMaggio wants.
https://ew.com/tv/futurama-john-dimaggio-wont-voice-bender-revival-for-now/
Basically, DiMaggio, West, and Sagal had a favoured nation clause & were negotiating together - what one person gets the others get. The contract offer went out and DiMaggio felt it was a low ball considering the legacy of Futurama and his & the rest of the casts experience and wages competitive to other series' (keep in mind
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Just pointing out that Billy West also voices several characters on Disenchantment, like Sorcerio the court magician or Elfo's father Pops.
My bad, you're right, I had forgotten he was in it, since he isn't a lead character
Damn, I was really holding onto hope that this would get resolved by that sounds pretty damning.
I wish I could say I never lost faith that he would eventually return but I did waver.
Either way, I'm glad he's back, baby!
Either way, I'm glad he's back, baby!
I guess Disney found some money somewhere.
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