Fans of "The Simpsons" already know that a fan-favorite character will meet his demise on the Season 26 premiere of the long-running show. Last October, showrunner Al Jean revealed that one of the main characters would be killed off but didn't give much detail about who it could be.
At the time Jean said that the actor had won an Emmy for the role, but a large majority of "The Simpsons" cast have an Emmy award under their belts. On Sunday at the Television Critics Association, Jean offered a few more details and hinted that it could be either Krusty the Clown or someone close to him, which means Sideshow Bob or Krusty's father Rabbit Hyman Krustofski could be making an exit from Springfield.
Krusty is voiced by Emmy winner Dan Castellaneta (who also voices Homer Simpson) and Sideshow Bob is voiced by Kelsey Grammer. During the panel, Jean said the episode will be titled "Clown in the Dumps" and told the audience that the answer to which character is leaving is "obvious."
Many fans think the title could hint at Krusty being depressed because he finds out during the episode that he's dying or he loses someone close to him, according to Comicbook.com.
"It turned out bigger than we thought it was going to be," Jean said about the episode, which airs Sept. 28. "It's not going to be this blood bath where they all get murdered."
The premiere episode will also be featured in a crossover episode with "Family Guy," which also airs on Fox. In April, Jean told TV Line that the death could rival the "Game of Thrones" Purple Wedding and jokingly said everyone was calling it the "Yellow Wedding."
Just because a character is being killed off doesn't necessarily mean fans of the show won't see him or her anymore. Executive Producer Matt Selman told TV Line that the character could appear in a dream, flashback or in something like a Halloween special.
"What we told the performer is, 'This does not mean the end of your participation in 'The Simpsons,'" Selman added.
Do you think Krusty the Clown will be killed on the Season 26 premiere of "The Simpsons?"
