The Simpsons Movie

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This article or section contains information about one or more scheduled or expected films. The content may change as the film's release approaches and more information becomes available.

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The Simpsons Movie

simpsons movie poster.png The Simpsons Movie teaser poster.

Official website
Directed by	David Silverman
Produced by	James L. Brooks Matt Groening Al Jean Mike Scully Richard Sakai
Written by	Matt Groening James L. Brooks Al Jean Mike Scully Ian Maxtone-Graham George Meyer David Mirkin Mike Reiss Matt Selman John Swartzwelder Jon Vitti
Music by	Hans Zimmer David A. Stewart (songs)
Distributed by	20th Century Fox
Release date(s)	July 27, 2007
Language	English
All Movie Guide profile
IMDb profile

The Simpsons Movie is an upcoming animated film based on the long running primetime animated sitcom The Simpsons. It is being produced by Gracie Films for 20th Century Fox with animation produced by Film Roman and Rough Draft Studios and is scheduled to be released "worldwide" on July 27, 2007. James L. Brooks, Matt Groening, Al Jean, Mike Scully, and Richard Sakai are the producers and it is written by eleven of the television series' most prolific writers.

1 Plot
2 Previews
3 History
- 3.1 Rumours and speculation
- 3.2 Related quotes
4 Technical specifications
5 Confirmed cast
- 5.1 Regular TV cast
- 5.2 Guests
6 Crew
7 Notes
8 See also
9 External links

[edit] Plot

There will be new characters introduced in the movie. It has been stated that Albert Brooks is scheduled to provide a guest voice for an all-new character in the movie, and may reprise some of his past characters (Brad Goodman, Jacques, Hank Scorpio, Cowboy Bob and Tab Spangler). Also, Minnie Driver and Erin Brockovich (the real-life activist) are confirmed to have parts.

Kelsey Grammer has said that his character, Sideshow Bob, will make an appearance in the movie^[1], although he may not be a main character.

On July 13, Joe Mantegna confirmed on The Late Late Show that his character, Fat Tony, will make an appearance in the movie.

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The whole range of 'notable' Simpsons actors and characters are expected to be used.^[3]

Marcia Wallace has also confirmed that her character, Edna Krabappel, has a part in the movie.

Having Brockovich play a part in the film could mean that the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, with its appalling safety record, will play a strong part in the plot.

If, as is likely, the film is issued a PG-13 classification by the MPAA, it is likely to contain stronger language than that of the TV series.^[3]

[edit] Previews

[edit] Trailer

There will be a sneak peek of the movie available on the Complete Ninth Season DVD set, slated for release on December 19.^[4]

A one and a half minute long trailer was first seen on November 12 on FOX, alongside The Simpsons episode G.I. (Annoyed Grunt).^[5]

The trailer begins with a 3D computer generated scene of a picturesque meadow, filled with flowers and butterflies. A rabbit hops from a hole in the ground, and begins dancing from rock to rock to the tune of Tchaikovsky's Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. The rabbit continues dancing, now along with flowers, as a voice over says "In a time when computer animation brings us worlds of unsurpassed beauty, one film dares to be ugly."

The Simpsons Movie logo with Moe in the center of the donut falls into view, and knocks down the rabbit. Moe says "The Simpsons Movie", and then holds out his arms and grandly announces "In 2D". Moe then looks down at the rabbit, and says "Uh... The bunny's not breathing."

Image:Simpsons movie trailer 2.jpg

Homer riding a wrecking ball in the movie trailer.

The trailer then changes to a scene of Homer driving a crane with a wrecking ball, and saying "It's time to save my family" in a determined voice.

The crane moves forward, and swings the wrecking ball towards a truck on an adjacent road. The ball reaches the end of its arc as it reaches the truck, and merely nudges it. The ball then swings back towards the crane, smashes through the cab, and carries Homer up into the air.

The ball continues to swing back and forth, crashing Homer into the elbow of a large Paul Bunyan statue in front of a gas station, and a big fake fork attached to a billboard advertising the "Zesty Fork" restaurant. Homer is then swung repeatedly back and forth between a large rock and a building with the sign "A Hard Place", before the wrecking ball finally loses momentum and stays still.

Then, the message "In Theaters Worldwide July 27, 2007" appears. After a few seconds, the trailer flashes back to the previous scene, where the stilled wrecking ball, with Homer still aboard, suddenly smashes into the rock again and then breaks from its chain and crashes into the ground.

The trailer then ends as the movie's website is shown, while Homer says "This film is not yet rated" woozily in the background.

[edit] Teaser trailer

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Homer sitting on his couch in the teaser trailer that debuted on March 31, 2006

A teaser trailer for the film^[6] was attached to the Fox movie, Ice Age: The Meltdown and could be seen in most theaters in the U.S. starting on March 31, 2006; this same trailer (cropped for television) was broadcast during the April 2 episode of The Simpsons, Million Dollar Abie. ^[7]

The teaser begins with the camera panning closely over the Superman "S" insignia, while a voice-over actor dramatically announces "In 2007, leaping his way onto the silver screen, the greatest hero in American history." This is meant to give the impression of the trailer being for Superman Returns, one of the high-profile releases of the summer of 2006.

The shot then zooms out to show Homer, wearing only a tiny Superman t-shirt and briefs, sitting on his couch. He blinks and timidly states, "I forgot what I'm supposed to say!"

The words "The Simpsons" appear, followed a moment later by the word "Movie" in large letters, as simultaneously the announcer says "The Simpsons Movie Opening worldwide, July 27, 2007." Homer is heard in the background, saying "Uh oh, we'd better get started!"

It then displays the release date, while Mr. Burns says "excellent" in the background.

The teaser was later shown alongside Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties in cinemas and is available for download in full quality surround sound HD from Xbox Live Marketplace to an Xbox 360.

[edit] Animatics

In July 2006, two clips of early, unfinished footage from the movie were shown to audiences during a Simpsons panel at Comic-Con 2006.^[8] The clips are black and white animatics, presented in a 2.39:1 aspect ratio. Additionally, a new logo for the movie debuted at Comic-Con. The second animatic clip can also be found on the X-Men 3 DVD.

[edit] First clip

The first clip ^[9] shows an angry mob of

Springfieldians: (chanting) "We want Homer! We want Homer!"

Lenny: So, uh, who we gonna kill again?

Moe: Uh, I think the people in the front know.

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Homer fights off the Sea Captain.

And heading for the Simpsons' house, where Marge and Homer are hiding, looking out through a bedroom window.

Marge: Look what you've done to us! Our only hope is for you to face that mob and apologize for what you did.

Homer: I would, but I'm afraid if I open the door they'll take all of you!

Carl: (off screen) No, we won't. We just want Homer!

Homer: Well maybe not you, but they'll kill Grampa!

Grampa: (off screen) I'm part of the mob!

The angry mob brings a ladder up and climbs up to the bedroom.

Lisa: Ladders! They've got ladders!

The mob breaks the window and people start climbing up one by one as Homer throws items at them as he shouts out puns.

Homer: (throwing a lamp at the Sea Captain) Lights out! (throwing a camera at the Blue Haired Lawyer) Say cheese! (throwing a doily at Dr. Hibbert) And uh... hello doily!

Dr. Hibbert: I'll kill you, you son of a bitch!

Homer screams and runs as the crowd starts coming in through the window. Downstairs, the mob breaks through the front door and runs into the house, breaking everything in their way.

Krusty: Teeny! Take out the baby.

Maggie smashes her bottle, points it at Mr. Teeny as a weapon and they make karate gestures at each other.

[edit] Second clip

The second clip ^[9] begins with a voice over:

Homer: "Hi I'm Homer Simpson, and don't tell Fox, but here's an unfinished scene from The Simpsons Movie. It's a work in progress so I don't want anyone asking stupid questions like 'Hey, what happened to the color?'".

Image:Simpsons movie animatic 2.png

Homer is attacked by his sleigh dogs.

As Homer says this, the movie logo on screen fades to black and white and he yells "Hey, what happened to the color?!"
In the first scene, Homer is in an arctic location on a dogsled, whipping the dogs and repeatedly yelling "Run!" at them. In the next scene, the dogs are sleeping and Homer continues to whip them, now yelling "Rest!" The dogs are then seen running again.

Homer: "Okay. That's enough whipping for now... with this arm!"

He proceeds to whip them with his other arm. Night falls, they stop to rest, and Homer begins to untie them.

Homer:"Now I know we've had a rough day, but I'm sure we can put all that behind us and just..."

The dogs viciously attack Homer as he screams and yells "Ow, that's my whipping arm!" and then run away.

Homer:"Why does everything I whip leave me?"

This clip is shown as a special feature on the X-Men: The Last Stand DVD, except the clip ends after the dogs run away and Homer does not say the final line.

[edit] History

The people behind The Simpsons had entertained the thought of a movie since early in the series, but things never came together. The episode "Kamp Krusty" was originally going to be a movie, but difficulties were encountered in writing a movie length script, at which point the movie plans were dropped in favor of a season premiere. Before his death, Phil Hartman had always wanted to do a live action Troy McClure movie. Several of the show's writers mentioned in DVD commentaries that they would have loved to do it. Matt Groening has revealed that they had been offered the chance to make a live-action Simpsons Movie, but turned it down as it would have likely ruined the franchise and angered fans. The writers of the show began working on the current script in 2001.^[3]

In Treehouse of Horror XVII, one of Al Jean's joke names was Al "July 27 2007" Jean, in reference to the release date of the movie

Bart's chalkboard gag on the May 7, 2006 Simpsons episode Regarding Margie was "I will not leak the plot of the movie."

[edit] Rumours and speculation

Rumors of a Simpsons movie have been circulating since early in the series. Speculation had seen a decrease until 2000, when news website Corona posted an April Fool's Day hoax describing fictional plans for a live action movie. ^[10] In 2004, rumors of a movie development spiked, with sources claiming that it would premiere on July 27 2007; this was confirmed by 20th Century Fox on June 6, 2005.

[edit] Related quotes

"We're very excited about the performances in this movie. Come next Oscars, we think it's going to be Milhouse's night" - Matt Groening^[11]
"Since 2001 we'd been working to get a script that would be worthy of people actually paying to see the Simpsons" - Matt Groening^[3]
"We've been running a little behind schedule- But only by about 15 years or so." - Matt Groening^[3]
"If I were feeling any more pressure, I'd be a diamond" - Al Jean^[3]
"We're going to put some fake plots out there just to make it interesting." - James L. Brooks^[2]
"The idea of the movie is that all of us who ran the show at one point and who have been there from the beginning come together as the writing team for this movie. That's the idea of it." - James L. Brooks^[2]
"That trailer is running on 7,000 screens this weekend, committing us to opening every place in the world on the same date, which means, we'd better get started." - James L. Brooks^[12]
"We've taken script security to the point of lunacy, though it helped that we wrote it in Aramaic" - Mike Scully^[12]
"This was enormously challenging, because it involved filling 120 blank pages with an actual story and words people say." - James L. Brooks^[11]
"I can absolutely guarantee that this film will far exceed the wildest expectations of every Simpsons fan. Start lining up at the theater now, preferably in costume." - Al Jean^[11]
"The movie is a result of the very singular vision of eleven people." - Mike Scully^[11]
"It’s been rough. We worked at it for a long time and then found out that Snakes on a Plane was doing the same story." - James L. Brooks^[11]

[edit] Technical specifications

The film will be colored digitally and presented in a 2.39:1 aspect ratio (the equivalent of anamorphic widescreen film).^{[citation needed]} Such a wide aspect ratio is somewhat more difficult for traditional animation, especially in long horizontal camera pans, as it requires wider backgrounds to be drawn. However, this format gives the animation a very "cinematic" feel and sets it apart from the 4:3 full frame format of the television series.