Unveiling the Ultimate Crossover: How Disenchantment's Characters Could Revive the Worlds of Futurama & The Simpsons

Summary

Crossover potential: Given the past crossovers and the shared universe, it's likely that Disenchantment characters could appear in The Simpsons or Futurama.

Time-travel possibilities: Utilizing the mystical orb and time-travel narratives present in both Disenchantment and Futurama, characters from these two shows could seamlessly cross paths by journeying through time.

Unique storytelling opportunities: The Simpsons' occasional "Treehouse of Horror" episodes and their framing narratives present compelling chances for Disenchantment characters to make appearances, whether in a Halloween-themed installment or as part of a captivating bedtime story on The Simpsons.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for the Disenchantment finale. The fifth and final season of Disenchantment recently premiered on Netflix, marking the end of Matt Groening's third animated comedy series. However, there is still a chance that the characters from Disenchantment could make appearances in The Simpsons or Futurama. In fact, considering that there was a crossover episode between The Simpsons and Futurama in season 26, it seems likely that we may see more Disenchantment characters crossing over in the future. This is especially true since both Disenchantment and Futurama exist in the same universe, which was confirmed in Futurama's eighth season. The Simpsons has had numerous crossover episodes throughout its long run, partnering with other Fox shows like The X-Files, 24, American Idol, and Family Guy. They even had a crossover with the ABC series The Critic in season 6. While Matt Groening didn't support that particular crossover, it does show that being a Netflix production doesn't prevent Disenchantment characters from appearing on The Simpsons.

10 In A Time-Travel Episode Of Futurama

9 In A Simpsons "Treehouse Of Horror" Episode

The Disenchantment crossover episode can be handled in the most obvious way. Both Disenchantment and Futurama exist in the same universe, with the only hindrance to the characters meeting being the difference in their respective time periods. However, since Futurama often explores time-travel storylines, it would be a simple matter for a future season of the show to depict the Planet Express crew journeying through time and ending up in Dreamland. On the other hand, the cast of Disenchantment could easily discover a pathway to New New York. In "Who Shot Elfo?," episode 5 of Disenchantment season 5, it is revealed that the magical orb featured throughout the series has the capability to transport characters backward or forward in time. Although the orb is ultimately destroyed, there is no reason why they cannot find a way to repair it or locate another one. In a world where magic is real, the opportunities for enabling time travel are limitless.

The annual "Treehouse of Horror" event in The Simpsons has become a beloved tradition for fans of the series. It offers an opportunity for the show to dive into unconventional storylines that may not fit within the canon of the regular episodes. Originally intended to be horror-themed, the requirement has been relaxed over the years, considering the show has now produced over 100 Halloween segments. Additionally, due to Disenchantment's inclusion of demons, Hell, Satan, disembodiment, and monsters, it already possesses a much darker tone compared to The Simpsons. This inherent darkness makes Disenchantment a potential perfect match for a Halloween-themed episode. Interestingly, Luci from Disenchantment even made a brief appearance in The Simpsons' 30th season episode "Treehouse of Horror XXIX."

8 In A Story Told By A Character On The Simpsons

The Simpsons has frequently employed the use of wraparound story devices to justify its more extravagant episodes. A prime example would be the season 6 episode "Lisa's Wedding," where a fortune-teller predicts Lisa's future in the distant year 2010. Essentially, it serves as an episode of The Simpsons taking place in the (then) future. This same concept could easily be utilized to narrate a tale of The Simpsons crossing paths with Bean, Elfo, and Luci. A return of the fortune-teller could even delve into the fascinating realm of Dreamland, or alternatively, Lisa could spin a bedtime story for Maggie featuring characters from the show.

7 The Simpsons Could Be Transported Inside Matt Groening's Fictional Creation

Matt Groening, the creator of Futurama, has appeared twice on The Simpsons as himself. References to Disenchantment, another show by Groening, can be found inside Comic Book Guy's home. To create a crossover between the two shows, one possible approach would be to have the Simpsons characters enter the animated world of Disenchantment. A similar concept was explored in a crossover comic between The Simpsons and Futurama, where the Planet Express crew encountered the Brain Spawn from Futurama's third season. In this comic, the adversaries were once again trapped, but this time within the pages of a Simpsons comic book. The Simpsons could also find a way to enter the world of Disenchantment through a dream sequence or via a virtual reality experience.

6 The Simpsons Could Travel To Dreamland Using "Stience"

Even though Disenchantment likely exists as a cartoon within The Simpsons universe, a similar situation occurred with Futurama until it retconned continuity in season 26, episode 6, "Simpsorama." In this episode, the cast of Futurama traveled back in time to Springfield from the year 3014. Unlike Futurama and Disenchantment, The Simpsons has never been known for strict continuity. Therefore, it is entirely possible for them to repeat this concept by having Bean, Luci, and Elfo travel through time to Springfield or by introducing scientifically advanced characters like Professor Frink or Kang & Kodos who open a portal to transport the characters.

5 Disenchantment Could Cross Over With The Serfsons

"The Serfsons" marked the season 29 premiere of The Simpsons with a twist, as it ventured into a non-canon episode. Inspired predominantly by Game of Thrones, this special episode transformed Springfield into a whimsical realm named Springfieldia. Within this enchanting kingdom, mythical creatures like dragons and a medieval ambiance took center stage, but perhaps most notably, the presence of magic. Rather than pursuing a customary crossover episode, The Simpsons could consider crafting a direct sequel to "The Serfsons," where Springfieldia emerges as a distinct region within the same world as Dreamland. Alternatively, they could utilize the power of magic to unite both worlds, enabling characters to traverse from one realm to the other.

4 Satan Could Make A Pact With The Robot Devil

One potential approach to combining Futurama and Disenchantment is by exploring the connection between their respective Princes of Darkness. Although Robot Hell operates based on technology rather than anything supernatural, Futurama recently blurred the distinction between the two realms in its eighth season finale, "Rage Against the Vaccine." In this episode, Hermes delivers a clever twist on the famous Arthur C. Clarke quote, stating, "Any sufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from science." This opens up the possibility for The Robot Devil to establish communication with Satan himself, seeking to acquire magical abilities and leading Satan to attempt a takeover of New New York, which is comparatively easier to govern. Consequently, characters from both shows would be compelled to cooperate and join forces in order to rescue their city and restore order.

3 Mora Could Discover A Link To The Atlantans

The setting of both shows is in the same universe, leading to a debate on whether Disenchantment is set before or after Futurama. If it takes place in Futurama's future, then it is likely that the race of mermaids seen in Disenchantment originated from the mermaids introduced in Futurama season 2, episode 12, "The Deep South." In this episode, it is revealed that the people of Atlanta transformed into mermaids due to the effects of caffeine from a leaking Coca-Cola factory after the city sank into the ocean. It is plausible that Disenchantment's character Mora could stumble upon a connection to her ancient ancestors, leading her on a time-traveling adventure. Considering Mora's position as Bean's love interest, it would also make sense for Bean, Elfo, and Luci to join in on the journey.

2 The Characters Could Meet Via The Return Of Cornwood

1 A Three-Way Crossover Movie

In the third installment of the Futurama movie series, bender's extraordinary imagination combines with the powerful energy emitted by two dark matter crystals, catapulting the characters into a captivating alternative universe. This parallel reality, known as Cornwood, draws inspiration from the mystical realm of Dungeons and Dragons. Although the events in Bender's Game render dark matter inert, it is conceivable that circumstances could arise where the Futurama crew find themselves reluctantly back in Cornwood, confronting the forces of magic once more. Just like the coexistence of Springfieldia and Dreamland, it is entirely plausible that Cornwood is merely another region within the same fantastical world.

Disenchantment shouldn't be limited to crossovers with just The Simpsons or Futurama. A particularly intriguing possibility would be to build upon the events of "Simpsorama" and incorporate Disenchantment into the mix. The previous crossover received criticism for its rushed execution, failing to fully explore the concept. Combining all three shows together would provide more than enough material for a full-length feature film. Additionally, since the lack of a sequel to The Simpsons Movie is due to the writers not finding a sufficiently grand idea, a crossover involving all three of Groening's creations would undoubtedly solve this predicament.

New episodes of Futuramarelease Mondays on Hulu.

The Simpsonsseason 35 premieres October 1, 2023, on Fox.