TV & Streaming: Gumball Returns, Comedy Central Orders Series and Movie From Stephen Colbert
The Amazing World Of Gumball was one of the most popular animated series of the last decade. Running for six seasons on Cartoon Network between 2011 and 2019, it went on to scoop up numerous awards including BAFTAs, Annie Awards, six British Animation Awards and an Annecy Cristal. Popular with fans and critics alike, it's not a big surprise that HBO Max has picked it as the latest show to resurrect to bolster its animation programming.
Gumball was originally produced by Cartoon Network Studios Europe (CNS EMEA). That studio has since been rebranded as Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe and this is the first greenlit property to be announced from the new incarnation of the studio.
The series will return initially in the feature-length The Amazing World Of Gumball: The Movie. The movie will act as a conclusion to the original series but also set up a new series that will follow some time after. Both film and the new series are set to run on Cartoon Network and stream on HBO Max.
Creator Ben Bocquelet is returning to direct and executive produce the movie, with Shane Mack set to write the script. Hanna Barbera heads Sam Register and Vanessa Brookman are also Executive Producers, alongside Sarah Fell.
Warner describes the movie's plot:
Staying true to its self-referential and meta comedic roots that endeared The Amazing World of Gumball to fans around the world, the movie begins when Gumball’s biggest fan finds the show’s missing episode and accidentally opens a portal connecting his world to Gumball’s cartoon world. Upon meeting his heroes, our super fan decides to team up with Gumball, Darwin, Anais, Richard and Nicole to save them from a nefarious force overtaking Elmore, while inadvertently unleashing a threat of their very own. Utilizing the latest animation techniques and CG technology, the movie promises to be both a comedic, emotional, and epic conclusion for fans of the original series and a new beginning in establishing the world for the accompanying series
Elsewhere, comedy icon Stephen Colbert is getting involved in more animated TV. The late-night star already created and executive produced the political satires Our Cartoon President and Tooning Out The News. He has now partnered again with CBS Studios to bring a new animated series and a feature to Comedy Central.
Colbert is sticking to what he knows and so both new projects are keeping things in the world of political satire.
The series Fairview is described as a 'half-hour topical comedy'. The eight-episode series is set in the titular town and follows its pragmatic mayor, former party-girl Kelly Sampson. It will look at how national politics can play havoc on small-town life. Feature Washingtonia meanwhile is a political satire about "a rising political star and his deeply incompetent staff navigating the way deeper incompetence of Washington."
The series and film alike are created and executive produced by RJ Fried with Colbert, Chris Licht, Tim Luecke, Kim Gamble, Mike Leech and Zach Smilovitz also on board as EPs. They are being produced by CBS Studios and MTV Entertainment Group, and will also be available streaming via Paramount Plus.
