In news that excites me greatly, Bob’s Burgers will be a movie in 2020. If you’re not watching Bob’s Burgers, you’re missing the best cartoon on network television.
20th Century Fox confirmed the movie deal, scheduling it to release on July 17, 2020.
Here’s what show creator Loren Bouchard told Deadline about the deal:
“We’re thrilled to be invited to bring Bob’s Burgers to the big screen. We know the movie has to scratch every itch the fans of the show have ever had, but it also has to work for all the good people who’ve never seen the show. We also know it has to fill every inch of the screen with the colors and the sounds and the ever so slightly greasy texture of the world of Bob’s – but most of all it has to take our characters on an epic adventure. In other words, it has to be the best movie ever made. But no pressure, right?!”
That sounds about right. The Simpsons made it work in 2007, as did South Park in 1999. South Park was still a relatively new show at the time while The Simpsons had already begun going downhill. Bob’s Burgers first aired in 2011, which means the movie comes nearly 10 years after the first episode. It will be tough for the creators and writers to not only keep the show fresh for another two years, but then make a movie. But if The Simpsons can do it, so too can Bob’s Burgers.
Fox Television Group chairmen Gary Newman and Dana Walden and Twentieth Century Fox Film chairman and CEO Stacey Snider praised the Bob’s Burgers team and are excited about the film, but let’s be honest, this is all happening in spite of them. They’ve constantly pushed Family Guy and The Simpsons more than Bob’s Burgers, even regulating the show to 7:30 PM, out of the 8-10 PM block that they heavily promote during football. If Seth MacFarlane didn’t create it, FOX has no interest in making it work.
This movie deal is probably bad because it means FOX knows the show exists and may try to change it. We need Beefsquatch to show up to FOX studios and ensure our burger buns are untouched.