Disney, indeed, owns the beloved Simpsons. The acquisition of 21st Century Fox (now 20th Century Studios) by The Walt Disney Company in 2019 brought this iconic animated series under Disney’s extensive entertainment portfolio. This move marked a significant development in the media and entertainment world, as it meant that Disney now had control over the beloved show, which had been a staple of American pop culture for decades.
The Simpsons, created by Matt Groening, first premiered in 1989 and quickly became a cultural phenomenon. The show followed the misadventures of the Simpson family, including Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie, in the fictional town of Springfield. Known for its sharp social satire, humor, and memorable characters, the series had a dedicated fan base and received numerous awards and critical acclaim over the years.
Disney owning The Simpsons opened up new opportunities for the franchise within the Disney ecosystem. While the show itself continued to air on the Fox network, it also became available on Disney’s streaming platform, Disney+. Fans of the show could now access all episodes of The Simpsons in one place.
However, Disney has not been allowed to use the characters in its parks since the acquisition because Universal owned the theme park rights to the characters. That, reportedly, is getting ready to change.
Universal Core tweeted that Disney may soon begin incorporating Simpsons characters into the parks.
Hearing Disney will start incorporating Simpsons character meet & greets more into the parks… might start at @ElCapitanThtre as a test pic.twitter.com/mNQoAQ5Gmh
— Universal Core (@Universal__Core) January 9, 2024
This cannot be done until the theme park rights come to an end, and rumors are that this contract expires in 2028. However, that doesn’t mean that Universal and Disney couldn’t work out an agreement earlier than that.
It’s important to remember that this is a rumor report and hasn’t been confirmed by Disney.
Guests heading to Universal Orlando could head to Springfield, U.S.A.: Home of the Simpsons, which features The Simpsons Ride. Of course, if Universal removes this themed-land, what will take its place?
If Disney decides to add The Simpsons into the park, which Disney Park will be the best fit? Disney World works hard to be family-friendly, and the Simpsons seem to go in a different direction.
Plenty of questions abound, but it will be interesting to see what comes of these developments, particularly in the next few years.
What are your thoughts on The Simpsons coming to Disney Parks?