The Simpsons Is Seemingly Losing Harry Shearer

Harry Shearer, the voice of The Simpsons' Ned Flanders, Mr. Burns, Smithers and Principal Skinner, among others, will apparently not return for the next two seasons which have just been ordered by FOX.

In 2014, Shearer won an Emmy for his role in The Simpsons episode "Four Regrettings and a Funeral." He had previously been nominated, also for The Simpsons, in 2009.

The actor, who was previously reported to have been a holdout among the cast negotiating for the new seasons, will apparently leave the series over a contract dispute, according to a pair of tweets he just made.

from James L. Brooks' lawyer: "show will go on, Harry will not be part of it, wish him the best.". (1/2)

— Harry Shearer (@theharryshearer) May 14, 2015

This because I wanted what we've always had: the freedom to do other work. Of course, I wish him the very best. (2/2)

— Harry Shearer (@theharryshearer) May 14, 2015

They provide only one side of the story and in very cryptic detail, so the exact nature of the disagreement isn't totally clear.

Negotiations between the network and the cast of The Simpsons are often fraught. While rising production costs and more or less static ad revenues mean that first-run episodes of the series are less profitable than in the past, The Simpsons is a goldmine in terms of home video sales, merchandising and syndication. This creates a lot of moving parts and early reports were that Shearer's holdup was related not to outside work as he seems to imply but to the cast's share of merchandising revenue.

Shearer has done dozens of projects outside of The Simpsons during the show's more than 25-year run, but since 2011 has not had a new film released and has made only three non-Simpsons TV appearances. He is a regular in the films of Christopher Guest, dating all the way back to This Is Spinal Tap but did not work with Guest on his 2013 HBO miniseries Family Tree.