The Simpsons Producer Says Episode Featuring Death of Key Character Is Not Canon, as the Show 'Doesn't Even Have Canon'

The Simpsons enforcement shaper Matt Selman has said that a caller occurrence of the long-running animated bid that showcased the aftermath of a cardinal character's demise should not beryllium considered canon — arsenic the amusement really has "no canon".

Indeed, Selman stated that the events of The Simpsons' Season 36 finale occurrence Estranger Things would apt ne'er beryllium referenced again.

Warning! Spoilers for The Simpsons' Season 36 finale follow.

As noted by IGN earlier this week, The Simpsons fans were near stunned erstwhile caller flashforward occurrence Estranger Things took the unprecedented measurement of featuring the events that followed the decease of a halfway household member: Marge Simpson.

The Simpsons has a loose, floating timeline and has aired galore flashforward episodes implicit the years (some of which present contradict each other, arsenic the show's decades-long tally has continued).

But the bid does diagnostic thing of a accordant narrative. Past events are often mentioned (remember that clip Homer went to space?), and the uncommon times a large quality does dice — specified arsenic Maude Flanders, and Edna Krabappel — these deaths are permanent.

Recent seasons person adjacent featured 2 flashforward episodes that were connected, and nary person delved arsenic acold into the aboriginal arsenic Estranger Things, which sets itself 35 years later.

"Obviously since the The Simpsons' aboriginal episodes are each speculative fantasies, they're each antithetic each time," Selman told Variety, successful effect to the occurrence provoking headlines.

"Marge volition astir apt ne'er beryllium dormant ever again. The lone spot Marge is dormant is successful 1 aboriginal occurrence that aired six weeks ago."

As IGN noted astatine the time, fans person been debating whether Estranger Things was canon. The series' instrumentality wiki, for example, presently includes a informing that the occurrence is apt non-canon, arsenic it is acceptable extracurricular The Simpsons' accustomed clip setting. Perhaps fans volition present request to reconsider whether this informing is adjacent necessary, if the show's ain makers are stating that The Simpsons' canon does not exist.

"There is nary canon," Selman concluded. "The Simpsons doesn't adjacent person canon!"

The Simpsons has presently been renewed until its 40 season, acceptable to debut successful 2028-2029.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You tin scope Tom astatine [email protected] oregon find him connected Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social