8 Reasons Futurama Doesn't Need A Season 8

8. No Bender?!

One of the names conspicuous by their absence in the revival's press release was John DiMaggio's. Whilst it's "hoped" that the actor will return to the role of Bender, it's by no means confirmed. Could he be holding out for a higher wage on account of the fact he's not interested in bringing back the character?

Futurama without Bender doesn't bear thinking about, but an off-brand sounding Bender would be even worse. Fry's alcoholic, narcissistic robot best friend is such an integral part of the core cast. It's why it's always Fry, Leela, and Bender on the title sequence and on various merchandise items. Bender has also been a part of some of the series' best episodes, like in Godfellas where he becomes an omnipotent god to the microscopic civilisation living on his chest.

As much as that's down to a (presumably also returning) writing team, it's also down to John DiMaggio's performance as Bender. In anyone else's hands the character could be a monster, but DiMaggio always maintains the balance between aggression and vulnerability. Bender without DiMaggio isn't Bender at all.