8 Ways The Simpsons Movie Could Have Turned Out Completely Differently

5. Bonfire Of The Manatees: The Motion Picture

After years of false-starts and unrealised pitches for The Simpsons Movie, there was a breakthrough in 2003, 14 years after The Simpsons had begun airing on TV. Then into the 15th season of the show, the writing staff had expanded to such a size that making a feature film on the side finally seemed like a real possibility. During the 2003 writers' idea sessions for what would become The Simpsons Movie, one idea thrown around and seriously considered involved the family rescuing manatees. Coming at the project from an environmental angle, as the 2007 film plot also would, the story featured Marge and Homer breaking up then reconciling over their shared attempt to rescue the endangered species. It was one of producer Al Jean's concepts and was, ultimately, rejected. The idea was discarded from the film sessions, and the story went on to serve as the plotline for 2005's 17th season opener, The Bonfire Of The Manatees.