Main Cast and Pay Structure
The core Futurama cast includes Billy West, Katey Sagal, John DiMaggio, and Tress MacNeille. Billy West voices over ten characters, including Philip J. Fry, Professor Farnsworth, and Dr. Zoidberg. John DiMaggio voices Bender and is also known for Jake the Dog in Adventure Time. Katey Sagal voices Leela and has a reported per-episode salary of around $300,000 for major streaming renewals. Tress MacNeille voices Mom and numerous minor characters. The show was originally produced by Matt Groening's The Curiosity Company and 20th Television Animation, and it currently streams on Hulu in the United States, where it consistently ranks in the top 10 animated series by viewership according to internal Hulu performance metrics shared with Forbes.
Voice actors on Futurama are typically paid per session rather than a flat annual salary. A standard voice session lasts three hours, and principal cast members earn between $50,000 and $150,000 per episode depending on their contract tier and streaming backend participation. The show's production follows a model similar to other adult animated series, where backend participation and streaming residuals can significantly increase total compensation. The Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA set the baseline rates, and the show's revival seasons were produced under the 2023 animation contract adjustments that raised session fees by approximately 5 to 8 percent across the industry.
Character Breakdown and Actor Assignments
Billy West is the most prolific voice actor on the show, handling Fry, Professor Farnsworth, Zoidberg, Zapp Brannigan, and several others. This multi-character workload is common in animation to reduce studio costs while maintaining performance consistency. John DiMaggio's Bender is one of the most recognizable robot characters in television history, and DiMaggio has publicly discussed the physical demands of maintaining the character's voice over decades of recording. Katey Sagal's Leela anchors the emotional core of the series, and her casting was a deliberate choice by Matt Groening to bring a grounded, human quality to the lead role.
Streaming Performance and Audience Data
Futurama's streaming performance on Hulu has been strong since the platform acquired exclusive domestic streaming rights. The show regularly appears in Hulu's top 10 most-watched original series lists, with the 2023 and 2024 revival seasons driving significant subscriber engagement. According to internal Hulu data reported by Forbes, Futurama is one of the most binge-watched animated series on the platform, with average completion rates above 70 percent for full seasons. The show's international distribution is handled by Disney+, where it is available in over 60 countries, contributing to a global audience that extends well beyond the United States.
The show's audience skews toward adults aged 18 to 49, with a strong male viewership demographic but a growing female audience. Nielsen ratings for the Hulu revival seasons have placed Futurama among the top five animated programs in the United States by total viewership. The show's social media engagement is also high, with official clips regularly receiving millions of views on YouTube and TikTok. This digital performance has made Futurama one of the most valuable animated properties in the Disney streaming portfolio, with merchandise and syndication deals contributing additional revenue streams for the production companies involved.
International Distribution and Localization
Futurama is localized for multiple international markets, with voice dubbing in languages such as Spanish, French, German, and Japanese. The localization process is handled by studios that work under the supervision of the original creators to maintain character consistency. Streaming availability on Disney