As ‘The Simpsons’ celebrates is 23rd season, word is it may be canceled at the end of next season.
The future of the show is reportedly in jeopardy because of a salary dispute between the 6 main voice actors – Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria and Harry Shearer – and studio 20th Century Fox Television, who have told the cast they must take a 45% pay cut.
The cast, who currently earn around $8 million per season, had offered to take a 30% cut in exchange for a small percentage of profits taken from global syndication and show-related merchandise.
According to an unnamed source, “Fox is taking the position that unless they can cut the production costs really drastically, they’ll pull the plug on new shows.”
“The show has made billions in profits over the years and will continue to do so as far as the eye can see down the road. The actors are willing to take a pay cut of roughly a third, but that’s not good enough for Fox.”
A spokesperson for Fox Television admits the show cannot continue “under its current financial model” but insists they have not yet called a halt to negotiations.
‘The Simpsons’ first aired in December 1989 and had a spin-off movie in 2007.
