John DiMaggio (Bender) explains his decision not to join Futurama revival

We recently found out that Hulu is bringing back the popular animated sci-fi show Futurama, and it’s been embroiled in controversy pretty much from the get-go. Though the revival is set to feature original cast members Billy West, Katey Sagal, Tress MacNeille, Maurice LaMarche, Lauren Tom, Phil LaMarr and David Herman, one notable absence from the cast list is John DiMaggio, the voice of Bender. Hulu and DiMaggio were reportedly unable to reach a deal for him to return, and the streaming service appears to be planning to recast Bender.

While the series itself is beloved by fans, Hulu’s decision to move forward with the project without DiMaggio is a big enough sticking point that it has many of them in an uproar. #BenderGate has been trending on social media, inspiring a conversation about how (and how little) the entertainment industry values voice actors. Hulu’s own marketing illustrates the issue: Bender is prominently featured in their announcement image, which is a bold choice considering how much DiMaggio brought to the role.

John DiMaggio explains his choice not to join Hulu’s Futurama revival

DiMaggio himself has remained somewhat quiet, retweeting the complaints of fans while taking his time to come up with his own response. However, he’s now ready to talk. DiMaggio issued a statement via Twitter to explain his choice to decline returning for the Futurama revival:

"Hi, I’ve been thinking about everything that’s been going on these past months and just to be clear, I don’t think only I deserve to be paid more. I think the entire cast does. Negotiations are a natural part of working in show business. Everyone has a different strategy & different boundaries. Their “price.” Some accept offers, some hold their ground. Bender is part of my soul & 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 & talent.Look, I wish I could give you every detail so you would understand, but it’s not my place. Thanks again for the love everyone. Still hoping for the best. In the meantime I’ll be in New Orleans shooting Interview With A Vampire for AMC—and very grateful to be! Thanks…"

That’s about as classy a way to respond as could be hoped for. It’s hard to imagine Futurama coming back without DiMaggio.

John DiMaggio is in AMC’s Interview with the Vampire show

Did you catch those final lines in the statement? DiMaggio actor confirmed he’ll be in New Orleans shooting Interview with the Vampire for AMC. So far as we know, this is the first people have heard that DiMaggio is involved with that show. Now, of course, we have to wonder about who he’s playing.

AMC just revealed the first footage from Interview with the Vampire during the Super Bowl. It stars Sam Reid as Lestat, Jacob Anderson as Louis, and Bailey Bass as Claudia. The first season of the show will run for seven episodes and is scheduled to release sometime this year.

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