"The Simpsons" fans rejoice! Harry Shearer, the voice of such beloved characters as Mr. Burns, Smithers and Ned Flanders, Principal Skinner and several others, has signed on to return to the show for Season 27.
After weeks of uncertainty about whether or not Shearer would be returning to voice the aforementioned characters, the actor has signed on to return to the show.
According to records on Entertainment Weekly, Shearer has finally agreed to rejoin Fox's forever-running animated comedy signing the same contract as the other five primary voice actors including Dan Castellaneta, Yeardley Smith, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, and Hank Azaria.
Fox confirmed the news via Twitter announcing that all principle cast members" had been re-signed.
We are extremely pleased to announce that all principal cast members of #TheSimpsons have now been signed. Woo Hoo! pic.twitter.com/pRHW8WJ2oY
— The Simpsons (@TheSimpsons) July 7, 2015
These deals run for four seasons including a network option for seasons 29 and 30. Moreover, these deals are estimated at more than a whopping $300,000 per episode. Bringing its episode tally to 625, Fox recently renewed "The Simpsons" for a 27th and 28th season.
Back in May, Shearer reportedly battled with the network over compensation; however he indicated that his departure was not due to a money issue, but rather the flexibility in his schedule.
"I wanted what we've always had: the freedom to do other work," the actor tweeted.
Everybody on the show does lots of outside projects. He actually gets to record on the phone and do the [table] reads on the phone. So we've never kept him from doing that stuff," Simpsons" show runner Al Jean told EW at the time.
Jean took to his Twitter Tuesday, July 7 to explain about what seems to be a misunderstanding between Shearer and the show, The Wall Street Journal noted.
"I would like to clear up a misunderstanding. I have recently been told that during a period where Harry Shearer believed he had a five week free period from the Simpsons, I was unaware of this fact, and did in fact request material from him. If so, my bad," he explained.
"truly glad he is returning to the show," Jean added.
The season 27 premiere of "The Simpsons" is slated to air, appropriately enough, on Sept. 27.
