simpsons is bringing back one of its most recognizable characters after almost a decade!
Apu Nahasapimpetilon returned with speaking lines during the long-running Sunday night (Oct. 18) episode of fox The character has spoken for the first time since the 2017 animated comedy.
This character is now voiced Sunil Malhotrawho replaces a longtime voice actor hank azariaAccording to an exclusive report of Diversity.
This surprise was revealed during the Halloween-themed episode “The Revenge”, which also introduced a new voice for Apu’s wife, Manjula.
Who is the new voice of Apu? simpsons?
Sunilwhose credits include gray’s anatomy, legend of korra And The Legend of Vox MachinaTaking over the role.
Janina GavankarKnown for The Morning ShowShe is also joining the show as the new voice of Manjula. both celebrated joint post on Instagram to announce the news.
The post reads, “Apu is back. After eight years of silence, Apu returns to Springfield, now voiced by South Asian actors @ThatSunil and @Janina as Manjula.”
“Bringing Apu back feels like a reclamation. It’s really his homecoming,” Sunil Said in a statement.
“After 22 years of friendship, I know Sunil He is the perfect person to bring Apu home,” Janina Added.
executive producer matt selman It was confirmed that both characters and their families would have a larger presence in the series moving forward.
“We love this character, and we want to bring him back,” matt told DiversityExplaining that the writers wanted Apu to evolve.
Sunil admitted that he initially had reservations about accepting the role due to the character’s controversial history.
The actor, who is of Indian origin, said he met matt and co-executive producer Cesar Mazariegos Discussing how Apu would be portrayed before agreeing to join the show.
He described the process as a collaboration and said he hoped longtime fans and South Asian audiences would appreciate the character’s return.
“This was the beginning of an intense collaborative experience and I hope it will be just as satisfying for longtime fans simpsons And for other South Asian kids who, like me, stopped looking at some point along the way,” he explained.
Why did Hank Azaria stop voicing Apu?
to reel Voiced Apu for decades before retiring from the role in 2020.
This decision was taken after criticism of the character’s portrayal as an Indian convenience store owner, especially after the comedian Hari Kondabolu Examined stereotypes associated with Apu in his 2017 documentary problem with apu.
In those days, to reel It was confirmed that he would no longer be voicing the character.
Apu continued to make occasional background appearances on the show, but had not spoken since the October 2017 episode “The Surfsons”.
How did Apu return? simpsons?
Spoilers ahead for the October 18 episode.
In “The Avenging”, a mysterious character known as “Daft Monk” sets out to take revenge on the Springfield residents. The character eventually removes his disguise and reveals himself as Apu.
This episode uses the story to acknowledge how the character was pushed into the background of the series.
Before Apu can destroy Springfield, he wakes up and realizes that it was apparently a nightmare.
He is back at the Kwik-E-Mart with his family, where Homer has invited him to a Halloween party. However, the Daft Monk costume is sitting under the cash register, leaving some mystery as to what actually happened.
“I’d be lying if I didn’t say the sweetest part was that righteous anger-filled ‘I’m APU!’ Had to be exposed! – from several of us – over and over again in the studio until we got it right,” Sunil Explained.
“I really feel like we did and I can’t wait for fans to see more of Apu.”
simpsons Currently airs Sundays on Fox.
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