Simpsons movie rumors (long)
Jouni Paakkinen
SIMPSONS MOVIE RUMORS
Maintained by Jouni Paakkinen <jo...@snpp.com>
Also available at http://www.snpp.com/news/movie.html
(with several links to full source documents)
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If you have ever browsed through alt.tv.simpsons or been subscribed to the
Simpsons-L mailing list, you must have come across rumors of making a
full-length Simpsons feature film. You may have heard stories about the
Simpsons movie being listed on a mysterious DTS disc, or how James
Cameron's digital graphics team was supposedly producing a movie to be
released by the Christmas 1999 or summer 2000, depending on the source.
Someone may even have pointed out to you that the domain
www.simpsonsmovie.com has been reserved by Fox.
Don't believe the hype. The Cameron rumor died out in lack of further
evidence, nobody knows what exactly that alleged DTS disc contained, and
simpsonsmovie.com is just one of over 200 domains reserved by the Fox
corporation. The British tabloids have misinterpreted words of Matt
Groening and David Mirkin. And so on.
So far, there is no official information backing up the theory that
a full-length Simpsons movie will be in theatres any time soon. However,
judging from the following excerpts, it is very likely that a movie will
be made eventually, and it's said that a script is being pitched.
Variety revealed in May 2001 that the deal with the voice cast for
seasons 13-15 included options on two feature films. The producers have
repeatedly stressed that the movie cannot be made before the end of the
series, but recently Mike Reiss revealed that it might be out already in
2006.
This document lists quotes (including article excerpts) from various staff
and cast members regarding the possibility of a Simpsons movie. The quotes
are in a reversed chronological order. Read what they have said and then
judge for yourself: Will there be a Simpsons movie, and if, when?
Additions are welcomed. Please include the direct quote, the source and the
date and send it to jo...@snpp.com. If the interview is online somewhere,
also include the URL. Thanks!
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Nancy Cartwright
BBC (07/30/04)
Asked if she was interested in the long-mooted Simpsons film taking off,
she said "you bet".
But she added that because the series was such a time-heavy production
the film would not get underway until the series ended, which could be a
while because in business-terms it was such a "cash cow".
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James L. Brooks & Chris Meledandri
Variety (02/10/04)
Active work on a concept for the pic began a few months ago, after 20th
Century Fox's film division hammered out deals with key writers.
When first approached about the pic late last year, reps for Groening,
Brooks and "The Simpsons" insisted there was nothing worth talking about.
After one of the scribes involved in the pic spilled the beans to a DVD
Web site, Brooks broke his silence Tuesday -- sort of.
"This is our idea of how to whip up enthusiasm for an idea that hasn't
been formed yet," Brooks said in a statement issued by 20th.
Chris Meledandri, studio's animation chief, said the studio was "very
excited about the possibility of making a 'Simpsons' movie."
"However, we are in the very early stages of developing an idea for the
movie," he added.
At least seven past and present writers of "The Simpsons" are said to be
involved. A studio spokesman didn't return a call seeking comment, but
industry insiders believe Al Jean, Mike Scully, Mike Reiss, David Mirkin
and George Meyer are all on board, in addition to Brooks and Groening.
Reiss is certainly involved: He's the scribe who talked about the project.
There's no timetable yet as to a release date on the project, though with
Groening's quality control and animation lead time, it's likely at least
two years off.
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Mike Reiss
DVD Fanatic (02/10/04)
DVDFanatic.com: How involved with "The Simpsons" are you nowadays? Have
you started working on "The Simpsons" movie yet?
Mike: My partner, Al Jean is running the show. He’s the boss and I just
come in a day a week as a consultant. I come in every Tuesday and just
help and put in my two cents. Al and I and five other veteran writers
of the show are currently writing "The Simpsons" movie.
DVDFanatic.com: What can you tell us about the movie? We've heard that
there was supposed to be a "Simpsons" movie for the past several years
but you don't want to just simply put three episodes together, so how
are you creating something new that's not been done before?
Mike: That's been the biggest challenge. They've wanted to do this
since season two. It's been 13 years of wanting to do "The Simpsons"
Movie. Finally FOX said, "Let's just do it!" We never had the greatest
idea that was compelling but FOX said, "Maybe if we start paying you,
you'll get inspired." And sure enough it worked! We've got a very good
and interesting idea and it's different from the show. You know, it's
like the "South Park" movie where it's just a bigger, longer, amplified
version of the show. I can't tell you anything specific about it. My
wife doesn't even know the secret.
DVDFanatic.com: When do you think "The Simpsons" movie will come out?
Mike: I will say two years from this summer. I think it’s going to be
Summer 2006 or maybe Christmas 2006. It's a reality after being just
sort of this phantom idea. I think it is really gonna happen.
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Mike Reiss
The Crimson White (01/30/04)
Reiss said a Simpsons movie would appear in the near future, since the
Scooby-Doo cartoons were also turned into a movie. He added that the
movie will likely be live action, like the Scooby-Doo movie, but he
joked that a Simpsons live-action movie might be just as bad as the
Scooby-Doo movie.
Reiss must have put some thought in his speech because he came up with
some perfect actors (perhaps too perfect?) to portray some of the
Simpsons characters: William H. Macy as Ned Flanders, Vin Diesel as
Homer (since Diesel is also fat and stupid, Reiss said), Don King as
Marge (because of the hair, obviously) and Tom Cruise as Smithers
(because ... well, you figure it out).
Expect a Simpsons movie in summer or Christmas of 2006, Reiss said,
while fans gathered for questions, comments and autographs after the
show.
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Mike Reiss
The Michigan Daily (10/29/03)
He revealed that the oft-discussed movie is in development and that he
is working on the script.
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Al Jean
IGN (08/29/03)
IGN DVD: For people unfamiliar, tell us about the movie you are working
on.
Al Jean: There's no script yet. We're just beginning to talk about a
story, that's about it. The actors have signed to do three movies, but
certainly it won't come out this year or next, it will be a while.
IGN DVD: Theatrical?
Al Jean: It will be theatrical, yeah.
IGN DVD: Does that mean the content will be juiced up, shall we say?
Al Jean: Well, we want to make it something worth going to the movies
for. The trick with a TV show is always why would people pay for
something they can see for free, and so we will try and make it worth
it.
[...]
We finally had the time to do these [DVD] commentaries. Some of the
cast appear on these, too, and there's a lot of different aspects to
the Simpson world and to me, the prime time show is the most important.
It's also the reason why the movie has taken so long, and it will be a
while yet before a film comes out. We just don't want to give the show
a short shrift. And that's another reason the show has lasted so long.
We're not trying to do everything and burn it out.
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Al Jean
The Man Room (08/27/03)
Al Jean: We might do feature films, but I would say they should just do
the series as long as they want and then do features if they choose to.
The Man Room: Features? As in the big screen?
Al Jean: Yeah, there's a deal in place, but it's years away from
completion. We're just concentrating now on keeping the show as good as
possible.
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Mike Reiss
The Triangle (05/30/03)
Will there be a Simpsons movie? "Yes, there was a Scooby Doo movie so
there will be a Simpsons movie," Reiss stated. "Will it suck? Yes, there
was a Scooby Doo movie, ... It's gonna suck pretty hard."
Reiss said that he considered casting a live-action Simpsons movie, but
it would require someone "bald and as stupid as Homer. That's why God
gave us Vin Diesel." Reiss proposed that Don King play Marge, and Tom
Cruise play Smithers, Mr. Burns' homosexual assistant.
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Al Jean & Matt Groening
The Museum of Television & Radio Satellite Seminar (02/12/03)
Caller, University of Maryland: I want to know if there will ever be a
Simpsons movie, a full feature two-hour movie?
Al Jean: The cast, I believe, is signed to do one if we have a script.
I know every writer and Jim [Brooks] in particular doesn't wanna do it
unless we have a good script.
Matt Groening: I do, though. [jokingly]
Matt Groening: We wanna do a good movie, and it's very tough when you
have a show that's on the air, which has... Every episode is like a
movie. I mean, we have a lot of storylines instead of a lot of jokes.
Some really good ones, some not so good obviously. [...] So if we come
up with a good movie idea... [...] Yeah, we'll do a good movie, we wanna
do it. I couldn't think of a good movie that came out of a TV show but
Harry [Shearer] pointed our the South Park movie, so there is an
exception. We don't want to do a Scooby Doo, that's bascially what we're
talking about.
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Matt Groening
The Hollywood Reporter (02/11/03)
Ray Richmond: What about the long-discussed "Simpsons" movie? Where
does that stand?
Matt Groening: We've had coffee and lunch a few times discussing it;
it's going to be the next thing. What we want to do is make sure that
we produce a really great first movie. If we do, then I can see doing
a bunch of them. Generally, movies based on TV shows are horrible.
The one exception to the rule was (1999's "South Park: Bigger, Longer
& Uncut"). If we could do something as audacious and fun as what the
"South Park" guys did, we'd be quite thrilled.
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Matt Groening
The San Diego Union-Tribune (02/05/03)
When tired of making executive decisions on "Simpsons" video games or
tired of meetings on a future "Simpsons" feature film, Groening goes
home to work on his weekly "Life In Hell" cartoon strip, organizing
his book-publishing empire and parenting his scuba-diving sons, Homer,
13, and Abe, 11.
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Matt Groening
TV Spielfilm (Germany) (#4, February 2003)
Matt Groening: We're also talking with 20th Century Fox about a movie.
They really want one, because they can make a lot of money with it. But
that's not an argument for me. Right now there's just no artistic
reason to bring the Simpsons to the cinema. [Translated from German
by Rüdiger Grammes]
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Harry Shearer
Ain't It Cool News (11/12/02)
And he's happy to say that a deal has been made, "in a manner of
speaking," with cast members about a feature film version of "The
Simpsons."
"I heard rumors that they are finalizing the writing side, deal-wise,"
he says. "But that is just a rumor. We still don't even know if we're
doing another season. Fox likes to keep these things very close to
their vests."
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Al Jean
Ain't It Cool News (09/26/02)
Is there ever going to be a Simpsons movie?
His answer.....? YES!
In fact, more than yes. He went so far as to tell us that all the
principle cast has recently signed for a three picture deal. The murmurs
spread through the room. People liked that.
But, (Yes, you knew there was going to be a BUT) he doesn't know when.
Currently there are no plans to end the fourteen year run of the show and
the writing staff is having enough trouble coming up with plotlines to
fill 22 minutes of TV show, let alone 80-90 minutes of feature film. It
was encouraging to hear him then say however that the six-man team of
writers (including himself) hired for the task of the script want it to
be something of quality. They absolutely do not want to do it simply for
the cash or to rip us (the fans) off.
They want to do it when the time is right. But, fear not people, a
Simpsons movie is on the way.
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Dan Castellaneta
Northern Now (Summer 2002)
"Even if the show goes off the air," Castellaneta says, "there probably
will be movies."
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Dan Castellaneta, Matt Groening & Al Jean
The Canadian Press (07/18/02)
Castellaneta added: "Even if the show went off the air, I think the
characters would go on in perpetuity, there'd be specials, movies,
spin-off shows."
Groening said he is a big fan of some of the new animated movies that
have come out and said that one day the Simpsons could follow
predecessors like the Flintstones, Scooby Doo and the Jetsons to the
big screen.
But a big-screen project would only happen if it did justice to the
characters, say Simpsons creators.
"We don't want to rush it out just to capitalize on the show," Jean said.
"It wouldn't be good for anybody."
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Matt Groening
The Financial Times (04/29/02)
For several years, there has been talk of a Simpsons film. Many fans
think the programme could make the leap to the big screen, just as South
Park did.
As far as Groening is concerned, however, it is not clear whether Fox
wants it or not. Creating a 30-minute programme is very different from
making a 90-minute film, and he is wary that a poor movie could affect
the television show.
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Matt Groening
BBC (04/05/02)
Richard Greenaway: Do you think a movie would replace the episodes on
television? Would you like to see some sort of climactic, Hitchcockian
finale to the Simpsons, or do you think it will just continue going on
and on?
Matt Groening: I imagine at some point we will give up on doing the
episodes, but right now there is no end in sight. I would just hate to
see us start to do movies based on the show and have that kill the show.
If there is a way of doing both I think that would be good. Or if the show
finally runs out of steam and then we go into the movie business that would
be good too, but I don't want a movie to kill the show.
I think that everybody who works on the show has similar feelings.
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Al Jean
Relix (February-March 2002)
Relix Magazine: What's the status of the feature film? I know a lot of
people are excited about the possibility of one.
Al Jean: Part of the new contract was that they agreed to do a movie--or
three movies--but we're just at the planning stages. We don't want to do
a movie unless the script is really good. So, when we have the script,
we'll do the movie. I think personally it might be best if we waited
until the show was done, like Star Trek. You know, as long as there's
money to be made, I'm sure we'll do it.
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Matt Groening
Cinescape (02/15/02)
"I've got lots of ideas, all of which seem like they might be more
appropriate for the TV show," Groening told us. "It's very hard to come
up with stories that justify a big-screen treatment - but we're thinking
about it." When asked if fans would have to wait until the show ended
before being treated to the film, he replied, "No. We'll get to it and
everyone will be especially tired that year."
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Harry Shearer
Moviehole.net (10/31/01)
We got talking about the rumoured film version of the show, in which he
tells me "Yes" it will happen. But he doesn't see it happening yet. "I
doubt it will happen until after the show goes off the air". Shearer
says he loves doing Mr Burns, so a movie is never out of the question.
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Nancy Cartwright
Lecture @ Ohio University (10/27/01)
Clint Haller: After the potential 15th season, she confirmed that they
have signed contracts to do three full-length feature films.
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Al Jean
Total Movie (#5, October/November 2001)
Also written into the most recent contracts were options for up to three
Simpsons feature films, a tantalizing prospect that has continued to pop
up in discussions about the show's future for years. Should the right
idea materialize, Homer and his brood could easily make the leap to the
big screen. Until then, their reign on the small screen seems far from
over, which at this point is perhaps the only aspect of the Simpsons
that continues to surprise Jean.
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Al Jean
IGN FilmForce (09/19/01)
IGNFF: As far as the potential for theatrical films - you'd like that
to happen as well?
Al Jean: This is just me - this is not the official policy of the show
- it may be smart to do the series, then wait a couple of years, like
Star Trek, and then have a movie come out. I think the anticipation
would be tremendous. But, if we had a great script, we'd be shooting it
tomorrow - but we're already producing 444 minutes a year, so we're not.
IGNFF: Is anyone concentrating on writing the theatrical script at this
moment?
Al Jean: We've talked about it very, very tentatively... It's very
premature to say almost anything - that's the way I would put it.
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Al Jean
Cinescape (08/13/01)
Al Jean: "There's more information than there had been [about a movie]."
"When the actors re-signed earlier this year the contracts called for
them to do three movies. The price is fixed as to what they'll get paid,
but we don't have a script. We obviously want it to be a really good
script, so it involves us getting enough time to develop something that
we really want to do. It's so much in the planning stages [at this
point]."
"This is just my opinion, but it might be good to wait, like Star Trek,
until after the show is done. I think it's going to happen but I could
not tell you when."
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Matt Groening
My Generation (May-June 2001)
Matt Groening: "There's talk of a 'Simpsons' spin-off and a 'Simpsons'
movie, too."
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David Mirkin
IGN FilmForce (03/30/01)
IGNFF: Is there anything happening with a Simpsons feature film?
David Mirkin: Because we're all writing [the series] now and because The
Simpsons is six months of the year where we're working on two seasons at
once, we never have a down time. It takes a year and a half to do one
year of the show. Once the show has run its course, I think a movie will
come because there's money to be made.
Any time there is dime, you can depend on Fox. I'm sure it'll happen.
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David Mirkin
Cinescape Online (03/20/01)
...series big shot David Mirkin revealed that should the series go to the
big screen, he'd like to see Bart Simpson lose his virginity in the film,
adding, "I see lots of Simpson sex."
More seriously, though, Mirken talks about when a film version of the
popular series might actually happen, saying, "There is money to be made
with a movie, but we're waiting for the show to end for the movie to
happen."
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Nancy Cartwright
Daily Trojan (02/27/01)
For one, Cartwright said a feature film of "The Simpsons" will "most
definitely" happen, but not until the show goes off the air. "We don't
have the manpower right now for this large of a project," she said.
"But when it happens, I expect there to be lots of celebrity guest stars
and surprises."
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Mike Reiss
Lecture @ University of Wyoming (02/19/01)
Jonathan Rhoades: According to Reiss, there is a movie deal to make a
simpsons movie. However, the deal states that the script has to be
written by Matt Groening, so a movie isn't likely in the near future.
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Nancy Cartwright
The Nancy News (Vol. 5 No. 2, November 2000)
"...with eleven seasons under our belt, The Simpsons is kicking off
season #12 on November 5th! It looks like there just may be more in
store AND a feature film in the not-too-distant future!"
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Mike Scully
USA Today (11/03/00)
"The future may hold a theatrical movie, but that's not likely until
after the pop-culture icon finishes its prime-time run. With solid
ratings and strong merchandise sales, that may not happen for a while.
Acting and studio deals remain to be worked out, but Scully expects at
least one more season after this one."
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Matt Groening
Newsweek (10/27/00)
Ana Figueroa: Will there be feature-length "Simpsons" movies any time in
the future?
Matt Groening: I think we want to start doing movies now, but also keep
the show alive. We've got to figure out what we can do that would justify
going into the theater. We probably could put out just about anything and
some people would come. But we want to honor the fans.
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George Meyer
MSNBC (10/02/00)
George Meyer: We should not do a movie until after the series, maybe
a few years after the series.
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Matt Groening
BBC Online (August 2000)
BBC: Will you do a feature film?
Matt Groening: The business answer is "no deals have been struck"! The
creative answer is only if we can figure out how to do something that is
not redundant, not the same as the TV show. Every TV episode is a
mini-feature. But in the long run, I have no doubt we'll do a movie
eventually.
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Matt Groening
Simpsons Mania Tour, London (08/17/00)
Matt Groening: No,no,no,no,no or at least not until we get cancelled
and I am sure no one wants that... next question.
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Matt Groening
Daily Express (08/17/00)
Matt Groening: It's a little daunting coming up with a half-hour TV
episode, let alone a full-length feature. ... No deals have been struck,
but we will do one.
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Matt Groening
Observer (08/06/00)
"...Groening leaves the daily reins of his flagship show to Scully,
busying himself with grander projects, such as a forthcoming Simpsons
feature film."
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Matt Groening
San Diego ComicCon (07/24/00)
When asked about a Simpsons movie, Matt Groening said "Yeah, I'll do
it.."
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Matt Groening
The Age (07/18/00)
Matt Groening: I think what could eventually kill it [The Simpsons] is
that it will get too expensive to be produced, but maybe we'll do movies
- we've been talking about that.
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Bill Oakley & Josh Weinstein
The Simpsons Sourcebook Chat (07/14/00)
billjosh: We actually have a top secret idea for a Simpsons film, but
they have to ask us to do it first. But the Simpsons film may be a great
mythological thing that is always talked about and never done. It
requires a lot of time!"
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Harry Shearer
IGN FilmForce (04/19/00)
Kenneth Plume: Has there been any scuttlebutt about a feature film?
Harry Shearer: No.
Kenneth Plume: Would you be adverse to that?
Harry Shearer: No. Nobody's ever asked us. The process would basically be
a lot of wrangling at the top end of the pyramid that we'd hear about before
we saw any signs of the script. I don't know if there's actually reasoning
about it. At some point in time one would have thought it was, "Well, we
don't want to cannibalize the television audience." Certainly South Park
has proven you can put out a feature and not hurt your TV ratings. So I
have no idea.
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Mike Scully
AT&T Chat (03/08/00)
smeagol88: Any plans for a Simpsons movie???
Mike Scully: We talk about it from time to time, but we have not even taken
step 1. The show takes up too much time right now to get involved in a movie.
I don't think we'll do it until after the show goes off the air. We want to
do it right.
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Matt Groening
New York Post (02/17/00)
Show creator Matt Groening, at least, can hardly wait. He told The Post
he's already mulling over film plots.
"I've got an idea for a movie," he said, during a recent interview.
"We've been talking about it, given the amount of attention the show has
received and will receive in the coming year," said Groening, who recently
received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
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Antonia Coffman
New York Post (02/17/00)
Fox sources say they'd love to do a "Simpsons" movie, but there's one
thing missing: a plot.
"Nobody has come up with an idea to sustain two hours, and we're not just
cashing in on the financial success," said "Simpsons" executive consultant
Antonia Coffman.
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Mike Scully
New York Daily News (02/15/00)
"The sitcom's producers say they're ready to make the jump to the big screen.
That's what the show's exec producer, Mike Scully, told Steve Martin, Martin
Short, Bill Maher, Janeane Garofalo and Barry Levinson and the rest of the
crowd gathered to watch the first-ever live performance of the show starring
Hank Azaria and Harry Shearer at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival on Thursday
night in Aspen."
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Alf Clausen
The Simpsons Sourcebook Chat (02/06/00)
johnfiedler: Haha -- here`s a classic question that would be asked by
an alt.tv.simpson-er: Have you, perchance, been asked to write the score
for a Simpsons movie -- or do you know of any plans by Fox to do so?
alfclausen: LOL! I have not been asked, and I know of no plans for a
Simpsons movie at the present time. More news at 11?...
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Bill Oakley & Josh Weinstein
The Simpsons Sourcebook Chat (10/15/99)
tss_john: temetamara: Will there be a Simpsons movie that you will
participate in?
GUEST_BILLandJOSH: Who knows? We haven't been approached about it. But
there could be a movie someday. However everyone who could do it (for
the most part) is too busy working on the show. Right now, there is
absolutely no movie in the works.
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Harry Shearer
E-mail message (09/10/99)
Harry Shearer: "You can quote me to the effect that no one at Fox or
Gracie Films has mentioned this project to me."
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Matt Groening
Starburst (#253, September 1999)
Matt Groening: It's really hard to do more than one show. That's why there
hasn't been a Simpsons movie, because we're working so hard on making shows
as good as possible.
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Bill Oakley
San Diego ComicCon (08/14/99)
Bill: I saw that IMDB posting about it, it's erroneous. I'm also familiar
with the story posted at alt.tv.simpsons of the mysterious film canisters,
that's a hoax. The reasons there will be no movie: Way too busy doing the
tv show, though there are enough people around that used to work on the
show that can do it. It would take too long to animate a movie, and anyway,
ninety minutes of Simpsons might be more than a audience can handle.
Simpson scenes aren't very long, a whole movies worth of this might be more
than a audience can sit through, I don't think that most people can handle
almost two hours of animation.
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Matt Groening
Wizard Magazine (#96, August 1999)
"Simpsons creator Matt Groening has admitted both he and Fox are interested
in a feature film on America's favorite dysfunctional family, but no
further progress has been made."
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Matt Groening
Collecting Simpsons! (07/22/99)
Question: Mike [Scully] and Matt ... Mike Judge and Greg Daniels -- couple
sessions ago -- said that the success of "South Park" led them to rethink
doing a "King of the Hill" movie. And one of the things that Mike said was
he can't imagine why you haven't done a "Simpsons" movie to this point.
What are your thoughts on that?
Groening: You know, in part it's because we're working so hard on "The
Simpsons," there's not a lot of hours left over in the day to do a movie.
And we really do care -- I can speak for Mike on this -- everybody who
works on the show cares about it so much that we don't want to let the show
itself slip, and there's not a lot of extra troops out there to make the
show really good and also do a movie. I'm sure there will be a movie one of
these days. We just haven't figured out a way of doing it yet.
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Mike Scully
Daily TV (05/20/99)
John Newlin: "Matt" wants to know if you have any plans to do a Simpsons
movie.
Mike Scully: I think it'll probably happen eventually. It comes up every
once in a while. It's hard for us to do it right now because of the demands
of doing the show. We don't wanna just slap it together just because we
know people will come, we want to make sure it's done with the same quality
standard as the show. We don't want people feeling ripped off. Neither do
we want to taint the memory of the series, so some day it will probably
happen, but probably after the series goes off the air.
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Matt Groening
Fox Chat (04/06/99)
MattWood: Is there going to be a "Simpsons" feature film?
Matt Groening: We have had some early, maybe, kinda, sorta, preliminary
discussions of doing a "Simpsons" movie.
Matt Groening: I imagine there would be a "Simpsons" movie one of these
years.
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Matt Groening
Fresh Air (03/19/99)
Matt Groening: I'd love to do it. I'd love to do a movie, but it ain't
gonna happen. There's too much money grubbing involved.
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Matt Groening
Mother Jones (March-April 1999)
Matt Groening: We're talking now about doing a "Simpsons" movie; if deals
can be made, then maybe we'll do a movie. I've got a few ideas for what to
do. I said, see if you can make the deals first, then I'll bother to pursue
it. I don't know if we'll tie it into the show. We might tie it in to the
end of the series. Every year, I think we've got two more years, then we
win another Emmy, and I think we've got another year to coast before they
cancel us.
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Mike Scully
Ultimate TV (01/24/99)
UltimateTV: Is there a full-length "Simpsons" film on the horizon?
Mike Scully: I would love it. There are a lot of financial particulars to
be worked out among a lot of parties that I'm not part of. But outside of
financial, one of the reasons we haven't done one yet is we don't want to
just slap it together and throw it out there because we know the audience
will come. We really want it to be good and to maintain the series' high
quality standards. We wouldn't want a bad movie to taint the memory of the
series; we don't want people to feel ripped off. And while we're doing the
show, it would be very hard to find the time to do the movie.
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Yeardley Smith
Lycos Chat (11/17/98)
Homerjmg: I've heard rumors of a Simpsons movie in year 2000....is this
rumor true...and if so, is Mr. Burns gonna die like I've heard?
Yeardley Smith: Oh boy, you've heard a lot more than I have! I've been
hearing rumors of a movie forever but I haven't heard anything quite so
specific.
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David Silverman
3RRR Radio, Melbourne (08/19/98)
James Young: In relation to The Simpsons; I'm just surprised they haven't
done a movie or something, given that's something people tend to do.
David Silverman: I'm often asked that. In the past the reason why we hadn't
done the movie... Fox wanted a movie I think within the third season. The
difficulty is, who would do it? I mean, when the entire episode, when one
season takes 18 months, and people are having hiatus at different points in
the schedule; it's hard to set aside time to do the movie or find people to
do the film; because we didn't really have the people to do it, per se.
Since then, possibly you could do a film, because enough people have left
the show that they could form a troupe and...even I could direct it, now
that I'm not involved with the show directly. But that was one of the
difficulties of having a motion picture made.
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Mike Scully
Cult TV (January 1998)
Cult TV: Along with the standard spin-off merchandise tat, there's also the
as-yet-unanswered issue of The Simpsons movie...
Mike Scully:"It gets talked about a lot," Scully says candidly."We simply
haven't come up with the right way to do it, and we certainly don't want to
just slap it together, and throw it out there, because we know it will
probably be very successful and so, if we do it, we have to make sure that
it's really, really good. If we did a bad job, it would taint people's
memories of the TV show."
"It would have to be animated. I don't see how we could ever do a live-action
movie as funny as the animated series. The animation allows so many creative
liberties that you just wouldn't be able to acheive with live-action. I think
it would be impossible for a set of actors to portray these characters. The
audience likes to see them the way they are, and if you tried to turn, say,
John Goodman into Homer, then it ultimately has to be disappointing to everyone,
including John Goodman. Obviously, he could never live up to Homer."
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Mike Scully
Mania Magazine (11/14/97)
Scully does see a Simpsons film as a real possibility "somewhere down the
line. We want to make sure we do it right. We don't want to take people's
money. If you do a bad job on the movie, we'll taint the memory of the
series. It's also a matter of money. It would be far more expensive to do
than the weekly show, in terms of the quality of the animation. But I'd
love to see it. If we find the right idea, I think we'll do it."
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Fox's Official Fan Reply Letter
Fox (Fall 1997)
Question: Will there be a "Simpsons" movie?
Answer: There is no time to focus on a movie because everyone works so hard
on the series. But we hope to make one...one of these days!
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Matt Groening
Loaded Magazine (August 1996)
Loaded: What about making a full length feature film?
Matt Groening: Yeah, someday, but anything involving signing a new contract
with The Simpsons means that people involved with producing the show come
out of nowhere and it's hard to read the contracts after the aliva is wiped
off because everyone's drooling for the immense amount of money they think
they're entitled to. I imagine it's highly unlikely we'll ever do one. It's
a shame because there should have been two or three movies by now.
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Bill Oakley & Josh Weinstein
Collecting Simpsons!/Syracuse newspapers (1996)
Q: Let me ask you about that. Has there been any talk of doing a movie?
Bill Oakley: It's a topic to the extent you've heard it. We always hear
occasional talk. People always ask us, "When is there going to be a
Simpsons movie?" We would love to do it, I just don't know when.
Josh Weinstein: There is definitely an agreement among parties that it
would be good to do a Simpsons movie. I believe, the second that one of our
Simpsons writers sat down and wrote one, I wouldn't be surprised if they
made it. It's just that everyone who is a good writer for the Simpsons is
busy working 16 hours a day right now writing the episodes. So maybe either
after we're cancelled or after more people have sort of become alumni of
the show, there'll be time to consider that.
Q: Could they ever do a live-action Simpsons movie?
Bill Oakley: It's certainly possible. But it might be kind of a
disappointment, like "The Flintstones" movie. I think everyone was hoping,
wow, it's going to be so exciting to see Fred in real life, and then it
wasn't. So it might be better to keep it in animated form.
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Matt Groening
Flux (09/30/95)
Flux: One final question: Has there ever been serious consideration given
to a Simpsons movie?
Matt Groening: There has been, but I doubt it will happen. I would love it.
I'm ready to do it any time but no one can agree on how to divide up the
obscene profits so there won't be any profits. [laughs]
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David Mirkin
CJAD (09/08/95)
CJAD: We're going through a period right now where a lot of stuff taken
from television is finding its way on the large screen. Do you ever foresee
a Simpsons movie, either animated or live action? They did it with The
Flintstones.
David Mirkin: They did it with The Flintstones. Well, there's always a lot
of pressure on us to do a Simpsons feature. That pressure is constant. It's
the same problem with the talent pool. We're all busy. There are very few
people who can write The Simpsons. That can animate The Simpsons. We're all
busy doing the show. So I don't think you are going to necessarily see a
movie until the show is done it's production and some people are freed up
to do it, that could actually do a good job, because we are very quality
conscious. You know, we're trying to do very high quality work in
everything that's associated with the show. That's all part of what Jim
Brooks cares about. I care about. It's important to us. But the one think I
can guarantee, is that eventually there will be a Simpsons movie. And there
will be a Simpsons Broadway play. And there will be Simpsons Ice Capades
shows because I can guarantee that 20th Century Fox will wring every dime
out of the franchise sooner or later.
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Matt Groening
Simpsons Illustrated (Summer 1993)
Simpsons Illustrated: What's coming up?
Matt Groening: Simpsons Comics & Stories was a smash, so Steve and Cindy
Vance, Bill Morrison, and I are scheming to figure out how to do comic
books on a regular schedule. Any interest out there for a Radioactive Man
comic book? The next Life in Hell book will be Binky's Guide to Love, a
sequel to Love Is Hell, and someday I'd like to animate the rabbits and
Akbar & Jeff for TV. A book called Bart's Guide to Life will also be coming
out next fall, and maybe someday we'll do a Simpsons movie. Any more
questions?
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Matt Groening
Prodigy Q&A (June 1993)
Gregory Stern: Will there be a Simpsons movie one day?
Matt Groening: Maybe. But right now, we're just trying to get through
next season's scripts. The movie is way down the line.
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CONTRIBUTORS:
Solon Boomer-Jenks
Alan Denton
Wayne Elgin
Greg Galon
Bruce Gomes, Sr.
Rüdiger Grammes
Dave Hall
Clint Haller
Rowdy Harmon
Dean Humphries
Brendan Keane
Jukka Keskiaho
Jake Lennington
Brandon McKee
Diana Morris
Rebecca Openshaw
Jonathan Rhoades
William Stilwell
Dave Sweatt
Chris Tarpey
Brian Tees
Sean Walsh
Eric Wirtanen
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Last updated 9 August 2004