"Futurama" has a direct-to-DVD mission

By Thomas K. Arnold

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - "Futurama" is coming back.

"Futurama: Bender's Big Score" will be released November 27 directly to DVD. It's the first full-length "Futurama" feature based on the animated Fox TV series, which went off the air in 2003; three additional films will be released individually through 2008, all with the original creative team and voice cast on board.

The plot centers on the "Futurama" crew fighting to save Earth in an epic battle against nudist alien Internet scammers. Bender the robot soon comes under the alien's spell and is sent back in time to loot the Earth of its greatest treasures; at one point he runs into Al Gore, who guest stars as himself, during the 2000 presidential recount. Other guest stars include rapper Coolio and comedian Sarah Silverman.

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment was expected to announce the details at the Comic-Con International convention underway in San Diego.

"Futurama" is the second Fox TV series to spawn a made-for-DVD program. Two years ago Fox's home entertainment unit released a direct-to-video feature based on the "Family Guy" series, "Family Guy Presents: Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story."

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter