The Simpsons: 10 Potential Ways It Could End

5. The Show Lasts Long Enough That Dan Castellaneta Or Julie Kavner Dies

The Ending:

The Simpsons is nothing without the voice of Homer Simpson, Dan Castellaneta, who at present is 57 years old and so should (hopefully) have plenty of life left in him, but what if the show lasts long enough that the legendary voice actor dies mid-production? That's without even considering that Marge's voice actress Julie Kavner is already 64 years old, and she's a damn vital part of the line-up too.

Though it doesn't seem likely that the show will still be on the air in 20-25 years' time, many surely thought just that in The Simpsons' early days, and look at it now. With decent ratings persisting, the show could last long enough that Castellaneta or Kavner could, God forbid, pass away before the show came to a proper end. Would Disney be crass enough to re-cast the distinctive voices? Or would a final batch of episodes be hastily cobbled together to give the character in question a farewell? After all, what's more appropriate than The Simpsons ending with Homer's funeral?

Why They Could Use It:

If Castellaneta in particular passed away, fan enthusiasm to see the show continue with an imitator would likely reach an all-time low, because in subtle ways the replacement would never be the same. If Disney instead acknowledged the death and brought things to a close, they'd probably earn a ton more sympathy from fans.

Why They Might Not:

For one, money talks, and Disney might not want to kill their cash cow "only" because one of their most famous cast members has died. Plus, how likely is it that Castellaneta or Kavner will die before the show comes to its end? Fingers crossed that they don't have to go this route.