The Onion A.V. Club Interview w/ Matt Groening

[on:]

He talks about "Futurama," as well as "The Simpsons" and "Life in Hell." In the interview, he talks more about the "Futurama" DVD movies, but doesn't give any concrete details about it. So it's nothing different than what Billy West said a few months back.

 

We're going to do four of them, straight to DVD. And as we speak, I'm exchanging e-mails and ideas with David X. Cohen and Ken Keeler, both of whom worked on the show from the very beginning. Right now we're trying to figure out whether to do a giant epic, or separate crazy movies, or what. But I wager that Bender will be featured prominently.

I think everything else he's said has been mentioned before, though.

Here

Discuss.

[Reply #1 on:]

My computer doesn't want to load the article. 

[Reply #2 on:]

WOW thats the best news ive heard in a while!

if it came out of greonings mouth, they may just be doing them!

[edit: i took out a huge 'yes']

(and officer the news is to good to miss out on even if it isnt offical, so heres the link to copy and paste into your url bar (if it doesnt work normally): http://www.avclub.com/content/node/47771/1

[Reply #3 on:]

Wow, thanks Evan!  I read The Onion pretty religiously, and always check out the AV Club stuff, but hadn't checked that yet.  That is incredibly awesome.

Ken Keeler involved too?  That's great.  One of the greatest Futurama writers.

[Reply #4 on:]

Swweeeet!

Matt sounds like it's (the 4 direct to DVD's) a done deal.  That's the closest to a confirmation we've gotten yet.  Plus, he's saying he's going to expand on some ideas he had.

So, my question is - do we (as fans) want several zany episodes or one long epic?

I'd go with the long epic - since it can have several sub-plots intertwined.

[Reply #5 on:]

Holy fucking shit. I really hope this happens.

[Reply #6 on:]

 

Originally posted by Ralph Snart:


So, my question is - do we (as fans) want several zany episodes or one long epic?

I'd go with the long epic - since it can have several sub-plots intertwined.

I feel the same way.  It might be good to seperate them in a really definable way, so it doesn't feel too drawn out.  But otherwise, I'd like a really long epic thing....I've actually felt for a while that each movie (except for the last one) should end with "To Be Continued" ala Back to the Future.  Just imagine the late night nerdy discussions with friends about what's going to happen next.

I wonder if Groening is remotely serious about the Robot-God/Godfellas exploration though?

[Reply #7 on:]

 

Originally posted by evan:
He talks about "Futurama," as well as "The Simpsons" and "Life in Hell." In the interview, he talks more about the "Futurama" DVD movies, but doesn't give any concrete details about it. So it's nothing different than what Billy West said a few months back.

 I think everything else he's said has been mentioned before, though.

Here

Discuss.

Evan thats great news! Matt Groening the most important person about Futurama (the creator) has more or less confirmed the DVD's!!! I can't wait!   

[Reply #8 on:]

I like how he said " we're GOING to do four of them". its not like how they usually just say 'we may be going to do them', i just hope groenings true to his word 

[Reply #9 on:]

 

Originally posted by my man-wich!:
I like how he said " we're GOING to do four of them". its not like how they usually just say 'we may be going to do them', i just hope groenings true to his word   

Well when said like that then it will be whooooooooooooooo 

[Reply #10 on:]

Much as I hate to rain on your guys parade but isnt The Onion a satirical publication?

[Reply #11 on:]

I found a video on Google video that says the AV Club section isn't.  You should keep an open mind.

[Reply #12 on:]

whoah?

[edit: thanks nixorbo for refrazing that]

[Reply #13 on:]

 

Originally posted by Nixorbo:

I found a video on Google video that says the AV Club section isn't.  You should keep an open mind.

Nix - do I take that statement as 'Cautious Optimisom' about the forthcoming DVD's?

If so, then it's gotta be a done deal.

[Reply #14 on:]

I'm not going to be cautiously optimistic until the dvd's in my player and it's telling me not to steal it

[Reply #15 on:]

@Ralph ::Looks into my feelings, knows it to be true::

I'll raise it to incautious optimism - my inner cynic isn't dead.

[Reply #16 on:]

 

Originally posted by my man-wich!:
(and officer the news is to good to miss out on even if it isnt offical, so heres the link to copy and paste into your url bar (if it doesnt work normally): http://www.avclub.com/content/node/47771/1

Cheers for the direct link, but my problem seems to be with The Onion's site in general.  Nothing from it will load for me. My computer seems to think the site as a whole doesn't exist.

I'd also prefer to see a whole epic spread out over 4 movies, rather than 4 separate storylines.  I've been waiting years for Futurama to be able to explore a single plot arc in a great amount of detail, because I feel it's one of the few shows with the potential to do something like that right.

[Reply #17 on:]

whahoo, verification by Matt Groening!  That's enough for me!

   

my inner cynic isn't dead

mine is.  He just had a heart attack.

[Reply #18 on:]

I'm bored.  I just had to do this.

[Reply #19 on:]

Wow.  Good news from a responsible, not-apparently-coked-up source.

Personally, I believed the movie rumors all along, so I'm more gloating than exceited right now.  Hearing pseudo-confirmation from a second source is definitely a good thing.

[Reply #20 on:]

Very good news. 

[Reply #21 on:]

It's great to finally read something about the movies from Matt himself. The rest of the interview was interesting too. I'd never heard the story of how he became a chauffeur.
I've also never heard of Look Around You...

[Reply #22 on:]

Yes! Great to hear the word about the movies straight from the Neptunian Slug's mouth!

[Reply #23 on:]

 

Originally posted by matt44au:
Yes! Great to hear the word about the movies straight from the Neptunian Slug's mouth!

Neptunian slugs don't talk lol 

[Reply #24 on:]

Nice interview, always a pleasure to hear from Groening or Cohen. Particularly good to hear the movies are still on the table. And ofcourse the mindless praise showered over Futurama fans.   

1 Print "Input level of optimism created by this report:"
2 Input increase
10 Optimism=optimism+increase
20 If Optimism=100 then goto 60
30 Print "Current optimism level is:" ;optimism;
40 If optimism>85 then print "Almost there..."
45 If optimism<85 then print "Still a wordlweary cynical bastard."
50 End
60 For x=1 to 255
70 Print "E"
80 next x
90 End

 Run

Input level of optimism created from this report? 15
Current optimism level is: 33
Still a wordlweary, cynical bastard.

Ready.

I knew my rudimentary knowledge of BASIC would come in handy some day.   

[Reply #25 on:]

Teral, you are officially a bigger nerd than me.  Even I don't code in something as useless as BASIC.  Congratulations.

[Reply #26 on:]

Onions make you cry Negi Negi(means 2 Onions in Japanese)

[Reply #27 on:]

 

Originally posted by evan:
He talks about "Futurama," as well as "The Simpsons" and "Life in Hell." In the interview, he talks more about the "Futurama" DVD movies, but doesn't give any concrete details about it. So it's nothing different than what Billy West said a few months back.

 I think everything else he's said has been mentioned before, though.

Here

Discuss.

The good:
Matt Groening said that they are doing those DVDs.

The "not so good":
They are still discussing ideas, so it will probably take awhile until we can see those new stories.

But still, new episodes in the near future is a lot better than no new episodes at all. 

[Reply #28 on:]

Billy West says that the voice actors are to start recording the at end of this summer.

Granted, Billy's made a few missteps, he has never backed off the story of the 4 direct to DVD's.

Matt's busy with The Simpsons, but I'm sure that he and DXC have already mapped out their 'master plan'.  The nits will be in implementing siad plan.

I'm sure that the 4 DVD's will be made at the same time - having the voice actors, animators and writers do everything at one time will be more cost effective than doing them one at a time.

But, at least we have something to back up Billy's statements about the DVD's.

[Reply #29 on:]

Maybe so, but what concerns me is the fact that it takes some time to do the animation. Four DVDs (probably/hopefully with a runtime of about 90 minutes) well, that's a lot do for those animators.

[Reply #30 on:]

well when you think about it, it's probably not much more work than animating a season of sixteen 23-minute episodes.

[Reply #31 on:]

I don't think anybody said they would come out as a set of 4. My guess would be 1 a year or so. If they were working at a broadcast rate it might 1 be every 2-3 months. Might depend on how they see quality vs. quantity. They would first have to decide if they want to do movies or TV length epsiodes that would be interchangeable with past episodes if there is a broadcast option. Not only with the stories but the look of the animation.

[Reply #32 on:]

Oh, I agree.  I was just saying that much like 'Back To The Future' Parts 2 and 3 being filmed at the same time, the 4 DVD's will be made at the same time and released over the period of months to a year apeice.

As for the broadcast - FOX may decide to sell the rights to Cartoon Network or Comedy Central - either one of those 2 cable networks would promote the movies correctly and treat them like gold.

[Reply #33 on:]

 

Originally posted by Ralph Snart:As for the broadcast - FOX may decide to sell the rights to Cartoon Network or Comedy Central - either one of those 2 cable networks would promote the movies correctly and treat them like gold.

I have no doubt that Fox will put some effort in promoting the DVDs. Keep in mind that the Futurama DVD sets sold well, which is probably one reason why they are doing those movies now.

[Reply #34 on:]

Also, Futurama is doing pretty well on Channel 10 is Australia, which could have prompted something.

[Reply #35 on:]

I just read the article.  It's the best news I've heard in a long time!  Gives us some hope! 

[Reply #36 on:]

 

Originally posted by ShaBuBu:
Also, Futurama is doing pretty well on Channel 10 is Australia, which could have prompted something.

I think it was when Matt said it's doing well overseas. There hasn't been much lively discussion on this much lately. Maybe people are skeptic since Billy was wrong the last time.

[Reply #37 on:]

Futurama? Is that some kind of show you guys are into? Never heard of it. But I guess I'll buy the movies when/if they come out to see if it's good or not.

[Reply #38 on:]

You sorely disappoint me with your bumpage of movie-related threads and lack of movie-related news.

But I finally got ahold of the article myself, and I have to agree that Matt sounds extremely confident that these movies are going to get made.  While that's encouraging, I just wish someone would come out and outright confirm this.

[Reply #39 on:]

 

Originally posted by Officer 1BDI:
... Matt sounds extremely confident that these movies are going to get made.  While that's encouraging, I just wish someone would come out and outright confirm this.

Get outta' my head! 

     

Oh. Er, um, uh... That is...

I couldn't agree more! 

GMTA...