Show runners would rather cancel the series, said Yeardley Smith (Picture: Fox)

The Simpsons may face the axe after studio Fox was bought out by Disney, who may consider the long-running comedy too risky for their family-friendly image.

Yeardley Smith, who voices Lisa Simpson, suggested that the show runners would rather cancel the series rather than risk having to change the tone of the show and alter its legacy.

The show currently has a contract to run for two more seasons, through to 2021.

‘When you’re dealing with something that is still so culturally relevant, and sort of such a pillar of our culture… if you’re going to mess with that, that’s some pretty risky territory,’ she said.




‘So my feeling is — and I could be completely wrong — is that they would cancel it before they would change it [creatively].’

The show currently has a contract to run for two more seasons (Picture: Getty)

Disney has yet to speak out on their plans for the show which has been on air since 1989.

Some in the industry believe it may be moved to Disney-owned channel ABC or even be sold to another network.

There are also over 700 episodes in the show’s back catalogue, which would help Disney form the basis of their planned streaming channel, Disney+.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter however, Smith added that she is ‘optimistic’ for the show’s future: ‘When you are building a silo, you need content. Even though we have 700 episodes, when we have a marathon and you can devour that in 14 days, dude, you better keep making those episodes.

‘For us, I think it’s very, very good as long as the writers and executive producers still want to keep making the show.’

Disney’s merger with Fox was complete on 20 March, closing out the deal for $71.3 billion (£53.9 billion).

The company now own brands like The Simpsons, Family Guy, Avatar and Deadpool – which may mean movie fans will see Ryan Reynolds’ character finally come to face with the rest of the gang and Guardians Of The Galaxy.

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