After a decade-long hiatus, the beloved animated sci-fi comedy series “Futurama” is making a comeback for an 11th season on Hulu, and fans can rejoice as Voice Actor John Dimaggio is set to reprise his iconic role as Bender, the hilariously foul-mouthed, human-hating robot. However, the journey to secure DiMaggio’s return was not without its hurdles, mirroring the larger discussions around streaming service compensation in Hollywood.
When Hulu initially unveiled plans for the “Futurama” reboot in February 2022, a wave of excitement was met with confusion and concern as John DiMaggio‘s name was noticeably missing from the list of returning original cast members. Having voiced Bender through its original run on Fox, subsequent DVD movies, and Comedy Central seasons, DiMaggio’s absence sparked immediate questions. As it turned out, the situation was due to a deadlock in salary negotiations between voice actor John DiMaggio and the streaming platform.
“When they made the announcement, it wasn’t like I had said no. We had been negotiating for a long time,” DiMaggio explained in a Zoom interview with Variety, just hours before the actors’ strike commenced. “It was a stalemate.”
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News of the potential Bender recast ignited social media, with fans expressing their dismay and rallying for John DiMaggio’s return. Fueling the fervor was DiMaggio himself, who playfully engaged with the situation using the hashtag #BenderGate. “Bender is part of my soul and nothing about this is meant to be disrespectful to the fans or my ‘Futurama’ family. It’s about self-respect. And honestly, being tired of an industry that’s become far too corporate and takes advantage of artists’ time and talent,” he shared in a tweet, resonating with many who felt it was crucial for voice actor John DiMaggio to be fairly compensated for his integral role.
The fan outcry and #BenderGate movement proved impactful. Just a month later, amidst growing calls to boycott the revival if DiMaggio wasn’t involved, Hulu and voice actor John DiMaggio jointly announced that he had officially signed on to return to “Futurama.”
“I didn’t want, nor did my agent want, me standing outside of a house that I should have been having Thanksgiving dinner in,” DiMaggio reflected. “It was just like, OK, I gotta say yes, because I don’t want the demise of the show on my shoulders.’ They were ready to bring in other people. It was what it was.” This underscored the pressure and the stakes involved, with the show’s future potentially hinging on the resolution of his negotiation.
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Interestingly, John DiMaggio revealed that he did not ultimately secure the sought-after pay raise. “I didn’t get more money,” he stated at a fan event in May 2022. “But what I did get was a lot of respect, and a lot of head nods from people who are like, ‘Yo, bro, I see you and thank you.’” He frames his negotiation as a matter of principle and standing up for artists’ value in the industry. “When you’re David with a sling and you’re standing up to Goliath, you try to do what you can to get your side heard. I think I did,” DiMaggio proudly concluded.
Despite the initial rocky negotiations, voice actor John DiMaggio expresses genuine enthusiasm about returning as Bender, a character he has voiced since “Futurama’s” inception in 1999. “It makes me so happy that we can touch people with this goofy sci-fi comedy that has some of these tender moments in it,” he shared, emphasizing the show’s unique ability to connect with audiences through humor and heart. “It resonates with people.”
The enduring appeal of “Futurama” is something voice actor John DiMaggio attributes to the quality of its writing and humor. Even early episodes remain relevant and funny in 2023. “That’s a testament to the writers, and to the way the jokes are cultivated on this show. There are raunchy jokes, there are off-color jokes, but they don’t punch down on this show,” DiMaggio notes. “We always punched up. And that always works. That’s how you win over people.”
Looking ahead to the Hulu reboot, DiMaggio assures fans that the show will retain its classic “Futurama” feel. “This show, whenever it comes back, people are like, ‘Oh, it’s the same!’ It is the same,” he affirmed. He credits the continuity of the writing staff, with “about 75% of the writing staff” returning, alongside talented new additions.
In a timely reflection, voice actor John DiMaggio sees his earlier contract fight as “vindicated” amidst the ongoing SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes. “It’s kind of interesting that the strike is happening, because it’s all the stuff that I wanted and was fighting for — not only myself, but everybody else,” he observes. “Now it’s not just me versus them. Now it’s everybody versus them.” His experience highlights the broader industry-wide concerns about fair compensation and the value of artists in the streaming era, making his return as Bender all the more significant.
