Futurama fans got some bad news back in June when Netflix revealed that Seasons 1-6 of the show would be removed from its library on July 1. While there are a few seasons still available streaming on Netflix, it was a big loss. Luckily, Netflix isn't the only streaming service out there, and another platform has struck a deal that will bring Futurama and other animated shows back. The complete library of Futurama will be available on Hulu.
Hulu managed to strike an impressive deal with 20th Century Fox, and it will ultimately have the rights to all of Futrama, all of The Cleveland Show, and all seasons of Bob's Burgers and American Dad! that have aired so far. Futurama isn't available just yet, but Hulu intends to get the entire run of the series up and ready to go in the coming weeks. These four shows expand Hulu's library of animated comedies even further, joining the likes of Rick & Morty, The Boondocks, and Adventure Time, to name just a few. This deal is also the latest to bring popular 20th Century Fox programs to Hulu, which already included NBC's smash hit This Is Us, Fox's Empire, and ABC's Fresh Off the Boat.
Basically, the deal is fantastic for folks who didn't have the time to get a final Futurama binge-watch in over at Netflix before the show was removed on July 1. Once all the seasons are up on Hulu, we can all watch at our leisure, whether that's an episode or two whenever we're in the mood or as many episodes as we are physically capable of watching before falling asleep. No need for Bender's robot army this time!
While Netflix is still king when it comes to streaming, Hulu is taking big steps with big shows that keep it on the map. In addition to the deal that brings Futurama, Bob's Burgers, and the rest to streaming, Hulu recently produced the stellar Handmaid's Tale original series. With other projects in the works like Marvel's Runaways and the Stephen King-based Castle Rock in the works, Hulu is only getting bigger and more exciting.
Interestingly, Hulu has already kept up with Netflix in one unexpected way. While Netflix undoubtedly has more subscribers than Hulu does, one report indicates that the subscriber base for Hulu actually nearly matches Netflix subscribers when it comes to average viewing hours. Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if the new deal for the animated comedies results in a boost in the numbers for Hulu, especially if Netflix fans find that they need to find a full Futurama fix elsewhere. We'll have to wait and see.
Check out our summer TV premiere schedule for everything you can watch now and in the coming weeks. The next big premiere for Hulu will be Difficult People Season 3 (which will include an exciting guest star) on August 8. To discover all the big reboots and revivals that are in the works for the small screen, our rundown has everything you'll need to know.
