After 14 seasons, multiple cancellations, and two high-profile revivals, Futurama has officially closed its latest chapter. The animated sci-fi comedy aired its series finale on September 28, 2026, with an episode titled "Final Ending: The Last Conclusion." But if you think that's truly the end, creator Matt Groening has a message for you: not so fast.
The finale itself was a classic Futurama adventure, blending personal history with time-traveling absurdity. It flashed back to Fry's childhood, when he and his brother Yancy snuck into a PG-13 movie but never saw how it ended. A thousand years later, in 3026, Fry finally sets out to find that missing conclusion, dragging the Planet Express crew through prehistoric eras and beyond. It was a fittingly heartfelt and ridiculous sendoff for a show that has always thrived on both.
Of course, Futurama has "ended" before. The series first premiered in 1999 and was canceled by Fox in 2003 after five seasons. Comedy Central revived it in 2008, running through Season 10 before pulling the plug again in 2013. A decade later, Hulu brought it back for four more seasons. So when Groening says the show has a habit of rising from the dead, he's speaking from experience.
"They can put us in a coffin. They can nail the lid shut, but they can't bury us. We will rise again," Groening told Variety. "I guess I'm not too worried." He also noted that the finale's title is intentionally melodramatic. "It's redundantly, fatalistically titled," he said. "I think we have a whistling-past-the-graveyard attitude these days because we've been in this situation many times before. We have lots more stories to tell."
And those stories are already taking shape. Hulu has commissioned three "XXXL-Sized" specials, the first of which will be a Christmas-themed episode featuring the return of Robot Santa in 2027. The specials were announced at San Diego Comic-Con this summer and are currently in production. Groening hinted that the extended format will allow the show to resolve some long-standing mysteries and pay off early hints. "If you ask me again in a year, then I can talk about it," he teased.
For fans who have followed Futurama through every cancellation and revival, the news is both bittersweet and hopeful. The show's ability to survive is part of its identity—much like other cult favorites that refuse to stay gone. As Groening put it, the animators, actors, and writers are all eager to keep going. "You never know," he added.
In the meantime, all 14 seasons of Futurama are streaming on Hulu, and the first XXXL special arrives in 2027. Whether this is truly goodbye or just another pause, one thing is clear: Futurama isn't ready to be buried just yet.
