Bender voice actor John DiMaggio has clarified why he's still negotiating his pay for Hulu's Futurama reboot. The animated series was given new life when Hulu announced that it would return to the streaming platform with 20 new episodes scheduled to air in 2023. Many Futurama fans have since become skeptical about the reboot, however, after learning that DiMaggio might not be returning as Bender after failing to reach an agreement with the streaming platform.

On February 9, Hulu and 20th Television Animation announced the return of Futurama along with a list of cast officially returning for season 8. It was immediately obvious to fans that DiMaggio wasn't listed, prompting backlash over the absence of what is arguably the series' most memorable character. Casting calls went out for a replacement, prompting criticism from other voice actors who found the idea of a new Bender voice actor absurd. DiMaggio then began retweeting angry fan responses before offering his thanks to supportive fans, saying that he would "keep everyone posted" on developments in the negotiations regarding his Futurama return as Bender.

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In his latest clarification on Twitter, DiMaggio opened up about why he's pushing for more competitive pay. The actor reminded fans that negotiations are a "natural part" of the process of working in entertainment, and said that he was attempting to secure the kind of compensation that he believes the "entire cast" deserves. DiMaggio also described a corporate culture in the animation industry that he believes devalues artistic talent. Check out his full statement below.

"Hi, I've been thinking about everything that's been going on these past months and just to be clear, I don't think that only I deserve to be paid more. I think the entire cast does. Negotiations are a natural part of working in show business. Everyone has a different strategy & different boundaries. Their "price." Some accept offers, some hold their ground. Bender is part of my soul & nothing about this is meant to be disrespectful to the fans or my Futurama family. It's about self-respect And honestly, being tired of an industry that's become far too corporate and takes advantage of artist's time & talent. Look, I wish I could give you every detail so you would understand, but it's not my place. Thanks again for the love everyone. Still hoping for the best. In the meantime I'll be in New Orleans shooting Interview With A Vampire for AMC - and very grateful to be! Thanks..."

The cast of character from the adult animated series Futurama.

The tweet confirmed that DiMaggio has not been impressed with Hulu's initial offer, especially given Futurama's popularity and the overwhelmingly positive fan response to its season 8 return. Hulu prides itself on being a destination for adult animation, which makes DiMaggio's tweet a significant call-out against a major employer of creative talent in film and TV. The fact that the actor still hoping for a positive outcome should give some, but not all, Futurama fans comfort that their crude, metal-bending hero could return with the voice they remember.

Since the first episode of Futurama in 1999, DiMaggio's voice has been a steady and iconic presence in the animation world. Fans grew up hearing him during the 2000s as the metallic, trusty yet untrustworthy friend of Fry in Futurama. Over time, Bender became as relatable and recognizable as Homer Simpson. When Futurama was winding down its series run, DiMaggio's voice took on another beloved animated character for the next decade. He became Jake the Dog, Finn's best friend and fellow dungeon-explorer with a famous appreciation for bacon pancakes on Adventure Time. The hilarious and heartfelt series ran from 2010 to 2018 on Cartoon Network, followed by a mini-series reboot on HBO with the original cast. Adventure Time's success was largely due to consistently strong voice acting, including DiMaggio's. Between Bender and Jake alone, not to mention his memorable roles on Disenchantment and other series, DiMaggio is widely considered voice acting royalty. His fans, and the larger Futurama fandom, are hoping that DiMaggio and Hulu reach an agreement to facilitate the original Bender's triumphant Futurama return.

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Source: John DiMaggio