Twenty-seven seasons in, Springfield is about to get its biggest heartbreak yet—Homer and Marge Simpson are set to legally separate.
According to Al Jean, executive producer of The Simpsons, this season’s premiere features the discovery that Homer Simpson has been suffering from narcolepsy all these years. The new diagnosis sends Homer and Marge’s marriage into a downward spiral, and eventually, the two split up.
Still, the fun is far from over. According to Jean, Homer soon moves on to another woman—his pharmacist, voiced by none other than Girls creator Lena Dunham. “We’ll have cameos from the other women from Girls,” too, Jean told Variety.
This is the second big piece of news Jean has dropped on viewers this week. Simpsons producers at the ATX Festival in Austin on Saturday announced that Sideshow Bob will actually kill Bart Simpson in this year’s annual Halloween episode. And last month, Harry Shearer, who lends his voice to Ned Flanders and Mr. Burns on the show, announced that he would not be returning for its 27th season.
The premiere of the new season is scheduled to air on Fox on Sept. 27.
Meet the Voices of The Simpsons
Dan Castellaneta is the voice of Homer, the bumbling patriarch of the Simpson family. He also voices other adult males such as Grampa Simpson, Groundskeeper Willie and Krusty the Clown.Michael Tran—FilmMagic/Getty Images; FoxJulie Kavner voices Marge Simpson as well as her twin sisters Patty and Selma and their estranged mother Jacqueline.Michael N. Todaro—Getty Images; FoxNancy Cartwright voices many of the male children in The Simpsons. She primarily voices Bart, but also gives life to Nelson Muntz, Todd Flanders and Ralph Wiggum, amongst others.Amanda Edwards—WireImage/Getty Images; FoxYeardley Smith is the voice of Lisa, the brains of the Simpson clan.Imeh Akpanudosen—Getty Images; FoxHank Azaria plays the town barkeep, Moe Szyslak, as well as a wide cast of male characters ranging from Chief Wiggum and Apu to Duffman (can't breathe! oh no!).Brad Barket—Getty Images; FoxThe other everyman of the series, Harry Shearer gives voice to Ned Flanders, Mr. Burns, Principal Skinner and a host of other Springfield residents.Dave J. Hogan—Getty Images; FoxPamela Hayden voices Milhouse, Bart's sidekick, as well as some other male children in Springfield like Jimbo Jones and Rod Flanders.Frazer Harrison—Getty Images; FoxThe late Marcia Wallace was the voice of elementary school teacher Edna Krabappel.Angela Weiss—Getty Images; FoxRussi Taylor voiced some of the kids at Springfield Elementary such as Martin Prince, Terri and Sherri, and German exchange student Üter Zörker.David Livingston—Getty Images; Fox
