One of the most dramatic developments in recent minutes has finally reached its conclusion, and it's finally time for a certain unfiltered, kleptomaniac robot to make a proper return. Bender from Futurama is officially getting his voice actor, John DiMaggio, back for the upcoming revival, making fans happy as Zoidberg getting some attention. That's right. He's back, baby.

Only a few weeks after the Futurama revival was announced at Hulu, hopeful fans can now sit back from the edges of their seats, safe in the knowledge that the one major holdout has finally secured a deal to join the rest of the cast. DiMaggio had initially been absent from the list of returning voice cast members, with even the original announcement seemed to suggest that his role as Bender would be recast. Luckily, however, everything turned out for the best, and he's back with the rest of the Planet Express crew.

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"I'M BACK, BABY!" DiMaggio said in his (and Bender's) own inimitable way. "So damn grateful for the love and support of fans and colleagues alike during this whole time (especially my wife, Kate), and I cannot wait to get back to work with my Futurama family. #Bendergate is officially over, so put it on the back of a shelf behind Xmas decorations, or maybe in that kitchen drawer with all of the other crap you put in there like old unusable crazy glue, or maybe even put it in a jar you save farts in. Whatever floats your boat, I don't care, you get the picture. I'M BACK, BABY! BITE MY SHINY METAL A**!"

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Fans were quick to rally behind DiMaggio right when the revival was announced, starting the aforementioned #Bendergate hashtag to show their support for the prolific voice actor. According to the actor himself, he cited the pay for the role as one of the main issues impeding his return. But it wasn't necessarily a selfish request, as he clarified later. "I don't think that only I deserve to be paid more. I think the entire cast does," he said in a Twitter update before his return was confirmed. "It's about self-respect. And honestly, being tired of an industry that's become far too corporate and takes advantage of artist's time & talent."

Futurama stars Billy West as Philip J. Fry, a young man who accidentally gets frozen on New Year's Eve 1999 and wakes up in the year 3000. As he navigates this new future world, he encounters plenty of colorful characters, all with that signature Matt Groening flair that The Simpsons and, more recently, Disenchantment have been bringing to audiences for years. Along with Fry and Bender, the show also stars Katey Sagal as the one-eyed mutant Leela, Phil LaMarr as the team's accountant Hermes, Lauren Tom as engineering intern Amy, and West pulling a triple threat by also voicing the alien Doctor Zoidberg and resident mad scientist Professor Farnsworth. They're all set to return along with fellow series regulars Tress MacNeille, Maurice LaMarche, and David Herman.

It's nice to get good news like this, particularly in a time when joy seems to be in short supply. A show like Futurama has that quality that just improves with age (depending on whose being asked). Here's hoping DiMaggio's efforts have made things at least slightly more accommodating for voice actors in the industry. It's easy for many to disregard how hard-working and passionate people in that line of work are, so every little bit helps.

Futurama is available to stream on Hulu, and the revival will be on the same service starting in 2023.

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Source: Deadline