The Simpsons' End: Will It Ever Happen? Showrunner Spills the Beans

The Simpsons' End? Showrunner Matt Selman Reveals the Two Conditions That Could Finally End This Iconic Show

The Simpsons: Will it Ever End? Showrunner Weighs In on the Show's Future!

The Simpsons. That iconic animated sitcom; it’s been around since 1987 and has been a cultural landmark! And with no sign of stopping; that ongoing series creates both excitement and some concerns, showing the kind of intense commitment to creating that enduring legacy. And when people ask showrunner Matt Selman (part of The Simpsons since 1997) about the show potentially ending; he drops some interesting, frank points.

Recently, The Simpsons kind of did a faux-finale, showing exactly what those fans are talking about and highlighting those very specific tropes; it showcases those incredibly complex thematic aspects behind some major narrative finales – creating this specific story to highlight just why avoiding a serious conclusive ending is so much better! And even the core character of Bart actively pushes back against creating that perfect conclusion. Selman was frank in a PEOPLE interview when addressing what conditions could mean that it's really the end for that long-running show; which creates quite a lot of conversation among those dedicated viewers and is also rather significant for fans and other parties involved with that long-running show! It showcases how committed everyone remains. But when is it truly enough?

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Two Conditions for the Simpsons' End: Natural Course or Tragedy

The Simpson family gather for a hug in The Simpsons season 36 episode 1 Image

According to Selman, the show could end under two conditions. First; its natural lifespan might run out, and at some point even the greatest of shows might just lose steam and run out. The second? Way sadder: a major cast member passing away. And he named these iconic voice actors as specifically impacted by such a major event. Let's keep in mind the significance of such an occurrence.

Selman was straightforward about how unlikely it would be for such a thing to ever truly come to pass and stated the following concerning those potential risks regarding what exactly could cause such a disruption that might impact the ongoing production schedule: "That I’m in super denial about. I don’t think about it, so I’m just going to not think about that. But certainly, it’s just if the show ever does a last episode."

His dream ending? Totally simple. No cheesy gimmicks. Just “a great family story...funny...involves the whole family”. That sums things up entirely!

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What Selman's Words Really Mean: The Future of The Simpsons

Bart, Homer, Lisa, Maggie and Marge Simpson standing in front of their house, looking vaguely worried Image

Ending The Simpsons would require serious consideration, not just from Selman, but Fox and Disney executives, show creator Matt Groening, and long-time producers. If everyone agreed the show can’t go on without a core voice actor; that finale may actually approach.

Rumors about Season 40 (four years away) being the end keep circulating. This anniversary makes for a significant celebratory ending while protecting the show's legacy! It seems perfectly viable.

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Our Take: Recasting is Impossible For a Show of This Caliber

The Simpsons (1989) TV Show Poster Image

While recasting supporting characters is frequently done, the main cast members are iconic, what makes The Simpsons such an important title for decades. It would be truly hard to replace them.

And Selman is correct! It’s sad to even contemplate this aspect for long term plans, yet the end shouldn’t continue without that core group. So, as far as we know; this continues and this legacy keeps growing; the story continues its run – the show remains strong for the immediate future!

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Conclusion: The Simpsons Will End; but When Remains Unknown!

The Simpsons will definitely end eventually! We still have many episodes in the next few seasons which is good news, demonstrating the continuation for quite a long time to come! What happens after depends entirely on those choices that impact this production; highlighting that even after such a long runtime, there is plenty of creative potential which might also result in entirely new seasons. So don’t start writing those eulogies for this awesome series yet – this long-lasting legacy clearly intends to maintain and carry its show’s continued success and influence to that much wider cultural and commercial success and legacy across pop culture!