“Never Say Never”: The Simpsons Showrunner Teases Potential Hit & Run Revival

For over two decades, fans of The Simpsons: Hit & Run have pleaded for a remaster of the 2003 cult classic. Now, those fans have their biggest reason yet to hold out hope.

In an exclusive interview with People celebrating the upcoming 800th episode of The Simpsons, executive producer and showrunner Matt Selman addressed the enduring legacy of the Grand Theft Auto-inspired game and the possibility of it returning for modern consoles.

The “Never Say Never” Stance

While Selman was careful not to announce an official project, his tone was notably more optimistic than in previous years.

“Nothing is set in stone,” Selman told People. “But my quote about Hit & Run would be, ‘Never say never.’ Because we know people love it. We know they want it, so that’s good. If we know people want it, never say never.”

Selman, who helped write the original game in his late 20s alongside Tim Long and Matt Warburton, expressed genuine surprise at the game’s “cult success” status. “Of all the games, the thousands of Simpsons games… that one… I had no idea it would become what it did,” he reflected.

The Battle for the Open World

During the interview, Selman shared a piece of behind-the-scenes history regarding the game’s development with Radical Entertainment. When Grand Theft Auto III revolutionized gaming in 2001, the Simpsons team knew they had to follow suit—but they faced resistance from the developers at the time.

“We were like, ‘This has to be The Simpsons version of that. You have to be able to get in and out of the cars,’” Selman recalled. “They so did not want people to get in and out of the cars. So, that was a huge battle we had to fight… and that ultimately shaped the gameplay.”

Why a Revival Is Complicated

Despite the “never say never” tease, the road to a Springfield remaster remains blocked by what Selman has previously called a “complicated corporate octopus.” The original game was published by Vivendi Universal, which is now owned by Microsoft. The Simpsons IP itself is owned by Disney. However, interest has spiked recently due to news that the original developer, Radical Entertainment, has effectively been “rebooted” as New Radical Games, a studio reportedly focusing on remastering classic titles.

What’s Next for The Simpsons?

The Hit & Run news comes during a massive year for the franchise. The show is rapidly approaching its milestone 800th episode, and fans are still buzzing over the recent confirmation of The Simpsons Movie 2, slated for a 2027 release.

While we wait to see if Homer will ever get back behind the wheel of his pink sedan on a PS5 or Xbox Series X, Selman’s comments suggest that the “Shadow Lord” of Springfield gaming hasn’t been forgotten by the people who created him. For now, the door isn’t just ajar—it’s unlocked.