Will Bender’s voice actor return in Futurama? New report says talks have hit a "standstill"

Bender in Futurama — (Image credit: 20th Television)

Futurama is coming back – but Bender voice actor John DiMaggio remains the one holdout in bringing the original cast back together.

Entertainment Weekly reports that negotiations between DiMaggio and Hulu/20th Century Animation have hit a "standstill." The current plan is for a replacement voice actor to join the imminent table read, though both DiMaggio and the studio are reportedly open to a return.

DiMaggio briefly addressed the ongoing situation on Twitter. He wrote, “Thanks for the concern and the props, everyone. I really appreciate it. Don’t worry, I’ll keep you posted, but until then… CHEESE IT!” DiMaggio has since been retweeting fans who are eager for Bender Bending Rodriguez to make a return.

"Some roles can't be recast," said one. Another wrote, "The very idea of doing Futurama without you is blasphemy and not a single fan of the show or your work would accept some imitator. I truly hope a deal is worked out so you can rejoin the cast!"

This isn’t even the first time Futurama has been brought back amid cast controversy. The show was originally cancelled after a four-year run on Fox, spanning 1999-2003. It was then revived by Comedy Central – but not before protracted talks over salaries. It remains to be seen whether the so-called #Bendergate will have a similar outcome.

In the meantime, check out some of the best shows on Disney Plus.

I'm the Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you'll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.