Bart Simpson’s longtime voice actor Nancy Cartwright believes the legendary animated sitcom could potentially come to an end after Season 40 — although she remains ready to continue for as long as the show goes on.
Springfield may eventually have an end date, at least according to Nancy Cartwright, the longtime voice of Bart Simpson.
During an appearance on Michael Rosenbaum’s Inside of You podcast, Cartwright was asked how long she believed The Simpsons would remain on television. Her answer was simple: “40 seasons.”
When Rosenbaum asked whether she genuinely thought the show would end at that point, Cartwright replied, “Yeah,” before quickly making it clear that the prediction was only her personal opinion.
Cartwright Is Ready to Keep Going
Despite suggesting that Season 40 could mark the end of The Simpsons, Cartwright made it equally clear that she has no desire to leave the show anytime soon.
Rosenbaum asked what she would do if producers decided to continue the series beyond Season 40.
Cartwright jokingly responded, “Are we still alive?” When assured that the cast and production team would presumably still be working, she replied that they would continue.
Asked whether she would remain part of the series for as long as it continued, Cartwright gave an emphatic answer: “Absolutely.”
Her comments therefore do not represent an official announcement about the future of the animated series. Instead, they reflect her personal view of how long the show might eventually run.
Fox Has Already Renewed the Series
Fans are unlikely to see the end of The Simpsons anytime soon.
Fox renewed the long-running animated comedy for four additional seasons last year, ensuring that Springfield’s residents will continue to appear on television for years to come.
The franchise is also expanding beyond television. A second feature film is reportedly in development, almost two decades after the release of The Simpsons Movie in 2007.
The original film became a major box-office success and gave fans a rare opportunity to see the iconic characters on the big screen.
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One of Television’s Longest-Running Shows
The Simpsons remains one of the most enduring television productions in history. The series holds the distinction of being the longest-running American scripted primetime series, and it has already surpassed 800 episodes.
Since its debut as a full television series in 1989, the show has followed the everyday adventures and misadventures of the Simpson family — Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie — while frequently using humour and satire to comment on American society and popular culture.
Over the decades, the series has also become a major part of global pop culture, with its characters and catchphrases recognised by audiences around the world.
Showrunner Sees No Immediate Ending
Cartwright’s Season 40 prediction also appears to be more personal speculation than an indication of any immediate plans by the producers.
Showrunner Matt Selman has previously suggested that the production team does not spend much time preparing for the possibility that the series could soon end.
“There was never a point where I went to bed thinking, ‘The show is probably going to end,’” Selman said, describing the idea of eventually having to close the offices and pack everything away.
That attitude suggests that, despite Cartwright’s prediction, the producers remain focused on keeping the series running.
For now, there is no official indication that The Simpsons will end after Season 40. If Cartwright’s prediction eventually proves correct, however, fans would still have several more seasons of Springfield’s famous family before saying goodbye.
Until then, Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie are expected to remain firmly part of television — with plenty more adventures still ahead.
