Disney's recent D23 Expo was a bit bigger than years prior, thanks in no small part to the sheer amount of announcements the brand had for its numerous properties. Among the projects that were touched on was The Simpsons, which may have some changes on the horizon. There were fears that the show would change drastically under ownership of the Mouse House, and while there does look to be some possible differences in the future, none sound all that bad.
For example, it sounds like there's a chance that a Simpsons spinoff could happen under the Disney deal, according to executive producer Matt Selman. Selman spoke about the possibility during a panel at the D23 Expo (via Variety) and discussed the amount of support the show has and will continue to get from Disney under the terms of the new deal.
I think Disney would be supportive of anything we wanted to do, maybe a crazy limited series with a side character or a movie that we surprised you with, they’ve been really creatively supportive and this is going to afford so many new ways to do the show than just the traditional format.
Fans have long asked The Simpsons' staff if a spinoff would ever happen, but to date the only thing creator Matt Groening has been concerned with was creating new shows like Futurama and Disenchantment. It is something that could totally happen given the rich number of beloved characters the franchise has created and developed over the years, and just might if Matt Selman is being serious about Disney's support of The Simpsons.
There's little reason to doubt he is, of course, as Disney tends to really want to get the most out of its big name franchises. Star Wars has three live-action shows in development, and Marvel Studios is also jumping into the world of creating television despite the impressive number of films it releases in theaters on a yearly basis. Should The Simpsons want to expand its show with a limited series, spinoff, or new film, chances are Disney is all about it.
One other interesting bit Matt Selman touched on were new ways to do the show other than the traditional format. A limited series is a great example of that, as not many elements from a Simpsons episode carry over to the following episode. Imagine a more serialized adventure with Moe, Lenny and Carl, or even Apu and how that would change up the typical Simpsons dynamic. It sounds very interesting and something that may happen now that the show is under the Disney family.
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The Simpsons is headed to Disney+, which is set to premiere Tuesday, November 12. Stick with CinemaBlend for more information on the upcoming service, as well as to stay up to date on all the things happening in the world of television and movies.
