‘Simpsons’ star Harry Shearer will no longer voice black character Dr. Julius Hibbert



[ad_1]

Harry Shearer is the last original Simpsons actor to remove a role. The February 21 episode of the long-running Fox animated series featured the actor’s final vocal performance as Dr. Julius Hibbert, one of the show’s most important black characters. But the citizens of Springfield will always be able to see the right doctor for his questionable medical advice – and plentiful lollipops. As originally reported by Vulture, Dr. Hibbert will be played by veteran voiceover Kevin Michael Richardson, starting on the February 28 episode. Richardson voiced several supporting characters on The simpsons since 2009, and his other credits include Teen Titans Go! and Family Guy, as well as the upcoming series Invincible and Masters of the universe: revelation.

This is the last casting change since The simpsons the producers first announced over the summer that the white actors would no longer voice the various colored characters that inhabit Springfield. Hank Azaria was the first to step down, relinquishing the role of owner of Indian convenience store Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, followed by colleague and friend of Homer Black, Carl Carlson. (Carl is currently voiced by Alex Desert; Apu has yet to be recast, but Simpsons Creator Matt Groening has said the character will stay on the show.) More recently, Jenny Yokobori replaced Tress MacNeille as Kumiko Albertson, the Japanese manga fan married to the ultra-cynical Comic Book Guy.

Dr Julius Hibbert on

Dr Julius Hibbert on “The Simpsons” (Image: 20th Century Fox)

Speaking to Yahoo Entertainment last year, Azaria co-star Yeardley Smith discussed her decision to step down as the voice of Apu – a choice that preceded the producers’ decision to recast all colored characters from the series. “I know he took the decision very seriously, and he really, really wanted to get on the right side of the argument and do something that he could personally live with and be proud of,” she remarked. . “We all really love Apu, and we didn’t mean to hurt, but that doesn’t mean you didn’t cause any damage.

Shearer initially had a different view The simpsons casting shake. In an interview with Times Radio in the UK in August, the star of This is the spinal cock said, “I have a very simple belief about acting. The actor’s job is to play someone who isn’t. It’s the gig. That’s the job description. I think there is a confusion between portrayal, which is important. People of all backgrounds need to be represented in the writing and production of business purposes so they help decide which stories to tell. and with what knowledge, the job is to play someone I’m not.

Shearer – who still voices popular characters like Kent Brockman, Ned Flanders and Mr. Burns – has yet to comment on the cast change, but many fans on Twitter are applauding the news. On the flip side, some are still struggling to adjust to Springfield’s new, more diverse reality.

The simpsons airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on Fox.

Learn more about Yahoo Entertainment:



[ad_2]

Source link