News arrived this morning that Harry Shearer is leaving The Simpsons, having voiced multiple iconic characters on the show for over 25 years.
The news has devastated fans of the long-running show, with many questioning how the series plans to continue in the announced Season 27 and 28 without Shearer’s vocal talents. Now we have an answer: the major roles that Shearer voiced are going to be re-cast.
Speaking to the New York Times, showrunner Al Jean confirmed that the characters will remain, even though Shearer is leaving.
“Harry Shearer was offered the same deal the rest of the cast accepted, and passed,” Jean said. “The show will go on and we wish him well. Maggie took it hard. We do not plan to kill off characters like Burns and Flanders but will recast with the finest voiceover talent available.”
Jean also tweeted about the show’s continuation:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">.<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/TheSimpsons" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-47076-https://twitter.com/TheSimpsons" data-vars-event-id="c23">@thesimpsons</a> <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/everysimpsonsever?src=hash" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-47076-https://twitter.com/hashtag/everysimpsonsever?src=hash" data-vars-event-id="c23">#everysimpsonsever</a> The show will go on, made by people who love it and see in it the most wonderful vehicle for satire ever.— Al Jean (@AlJean) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/AlJean/status/598810532305444864" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-47076-https://twitter.com/AlJean/status/598810532305444864" data-vars-event-id="c23">May 14, 2015</a>
Shearer voiced over 30 characters during his time on the show, including Mr. Burns, Ned Flanders, Dr. Hibbert, Principal Skinner and Lenny.
The Simpsons: Harry Shearer's characters - in pictures
While the series continues to pull in viewers in the States, this change-up could have serious ramifications for America’s longest running sitcom - it’s hard to imagine the show with different voices for these classic characters.
