The animated sitcom "The Simpsons" might conclude after its 40th season, according to Nancy Cartwright, the voice of Bart Simpson. Cartwright shared this personal prediction during an appearance on Michael Rosenbaum’s podcast, "Inside of You."
When asked about the show's longevity, Cartwright stated, "40 [seasons]." She later clarified that this was her opinion, though she expressed openness to continuing beyond that if the producers wished.
"The Simpsons" first aired as a standalone series in 1989, following its debut as shorts on "The Tracey Ullman Show" in 1987. The show recently concluded its 37th season in February. Fox has renewed "The Simpsons" for an additional four seasons as part of its programming slate.
The series is also slated to release its second feature film next year, nearly two decades after the first film in 2007.
Showrunner Matt Selman previously told Page Six that he had not seriously anticipated the series' cancellation. He noted that the show's availability on Disney+ following Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox has attracted a new, younger audience.
"The Simpsons" holds the record for the longest-running American scripted primetime series, surpassing "Gunsmoke" in 2009. It has aired over 800 episodes.