A potential revival of the beloved 2003 game, The Simpsons: Hit & Run, has been teased by series creator Matt Groening, only to be met with immediate skepticism from current showrunner Matt Selman. Groening suggested during a D23 Disney fan event panel that the original game was slated for a comeback in some capacity. However, Selman quickly countered his statement with a simple "Or not," dampening immediate excitement.
The precise nature of the alleged return remains unclear. Groening's phrasing, "the original game is coming back in some form," suggests a remaster or remake rather than a direct sequel. This aligns with a broader trend in the gaming industry, which has seen numerous remakes and remasters of classic titles, such as SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated.
Further fueling speculation, Selman himself, who also wrote for the original Hit & Run, recently stated that fans should "never say never" regarding the franchise's potential return. This comment, coupled with Groening's, indicates a possible underlying interest within the production, even if details are being kept under wraps.
Despite Selman's cautious response, the possibility of a Hit & Run remaster has resonated strongly with fans. The game, often described as a Grand Theft Auto-lite experience set in Springfield, holds a special place in the hearts of many millennials and Gen Z players who grew up with it. For some, it served as an accessible entry point into the open-world genre, akin to Jak II for players whose parents might have restricted access to more mature titles.