After nearly a year of uncertainty, the Quebec version of the animated series The Simpsons (Les Simpson) will return for its 36th season this fall. The news was confirmed after telecom giant Bell Media reached a deal with Disney over broadcast and dubbing rights.
Last August, the Télétoon channel decided not to renew its broadcast rights, leaving Quebec viewers facing the prospect of watching a European French-dubbed version—a move that deeply disappointed fans in Canada's only French-speaking province.
The Quebec version of Les Simpson is cherished for its ability to adapt jokes and geographical references to local culture. For instance, instead of cheering for the Dallas Cowboys, Homer is a fan of the Montreal Alouettes.
On Reddit, fans celebrated the decision and noted that the Quebec version uses vulgar, working-class dialogue to depict the world of Springfield. One user remarked: "It's a satire of our North American society. Canada may not be the U.S., but it's still the country most similar to our society. A dive bar serving cheap beer like Moe's—we have that."
Thiéry Dubé, the Quebec actor who has voiced Homer Simpson for the past eight years, said the version "shines" because it "adapts to each country based on what its people experience." He emphasized that Les Simpson is "part of our identity."
The dubbing team has faced losses in recent years. Béatrice Picard, who voiced Marge Simpson until age 93, died in December at 96. On the same day the return news was announced, team members attended the funeral of Benoît Rousseau, the voice of Grampa Simpson, Mr. Burns, and Lenny Leonard.
"It was a tough day because we said goodbye to our friend Benoît. But at the same time, we received this fantastic news—it shows that life goes on," Dubé told the Canadian Press.
In a clip posted on social media, Bart and Lisa Simpson share the good news with Quebec accents. "Can you imagine? Thanks to you, the Quebec version is making a grand comeback," Bart says. The clip ends with: "Vive les Simpson libres! Vive le doublage faite à Québec!"
