The Simpsons are going to need a new voice actor for Apu, should the character ever make a return. The man who has voiced the iconic character since he was introduced decades ago, has announced he will do it, no longer. Hank Azaria said in a recent interview; he’s officially retiring from doing the character.
Speaking to Slashfilm, Azaria said he wouldn’t do the voice of The Simpsons character unless it’s as a way to transition to something or someone else. Just what will happen to the character sans Hank Azaria hasn’t been sorted out, according to the actor.
“What they’re going to do with the character is their call. It’s up to them and they haven’t sorted it out yet. All we’ve agreed on is I won’t do the voice anymore.”
Following the 2017 release of the documentary, The Problem with Apu, questions, and controversy has swirled around the stereotypical Indian character. Calls for The Simpsons to end the use of the character have been long and loud. Calls for Hank Azaria to stop voicing Apu have been consistent as well.
Despite calls to discontinue Apu, what The Simpsons creators would do has been a mystery. Rumors would pop up about the end of Apu.
Those rumors would subsequently get shot down. Talk of Hank Azaria quitting would start, then abruptly end.
This time, the news is directly out of the horse’s mouth. Azaria has been uneasy about the offense his portrayal of the Quickie Mart owner causes for some time now.
It was underlined by the release of the documentary. Now the questions turn to whether or not the character could still make a return.
The Simpsons, for its part, is still going strong. Last winter, the Fox stalwart was renewed for its 31st and 32nd seasons. It’s unlikely the show will end there.
Oliver has been a lifelong gamer and a writer for most of his adult life. He came to Nerdstash thrilled to be able to write about what he loves the most again. Whether it’s video games, movies, or television shows, he’s a combination of jock and nerd and the two parts of the whole have figured out how to live peaceably.
