Love it or loathe it, we all have something to say about the almost 20-year-old animated series Family Guy. The show has left an enduring mark on popular culture in the US and beyond, with characters such as Stewie and Brian being instantly recognizable to fans and non-fans alike.
While many may argue that the show’s heyday is behind it, we definitely haven’t seen the last of it. Following years of frantic rumors, it was finally confirmed in August that Fox is working on the first big-screen adaptation of Family Guy, alongside a sequel to the hugely popular Simpson’s Movie.
When this will actually hit the screens is anyone’s guess, with information being particularly difficult to come by. Let’s take a look at what we might be able to expect from a Family Guy movie.
What We Know
We know that the creator of the series, Seth MacFarlane, has been interested in producing a Family Guy film since at least 2007, when he first floated the idea to audiences at Comic-Con. Plans were quickly shelved once MacFarlane started working on his buddy comedy film Ted, and talk of a movie disappeared from the airwaves for a while.
It was only in 2018 that the possibility of a movie resurfaced, with Fox quietly putting out the news that such a production was indeed underway. It has been reported that MacFarlane will be reprising his voice acting roles as Peter, Brian, and Stewie, while long-time collaborator Mila Kunis will be returning to voice Meg.
Perhaps most intriguingly, it has also been revealed that the film will contain live-action elements, although what this will actually amount to remains a secret.
Will People Actually Watch It?
Whether the film will prove to be a hit is another question entirely. To compare a similar production, the Simpsons Movie also premiered after about two decades of TV episodes, while facing the same declining ratings that Family Guy is now stuck with. In spite of this, it went on to gross hundreds of millions of dollars, becoming one of the highest-grossing animated films of all time and receiving critical acclaim. The film was also responsible for a big bump in ratings for the TV show at the time.
So could a Family Guy film enjoy the same success? We know that there are still legions of dedicated fans, evidenced by the sprawling media empire produced by the show. Millions of people continue to enjoy Family Guy comic books, the Family Guy Android and Xbox games, the Family Guy online slots produced by NetEnt and available on Bob Casino, and even the Family Guy VR experience by Oculus Rift. There’s clearly an ongoing appetite for the show and the characters, so it might just possibly translate into box office dollars.
One thing that’s certain is that viewership for the TV series is in terminal decline, with barely 2 million people tuning in for the latest series, compared to over 20 million at the peak of the show’s success. A film version may prove whether or not Family Guy has left as strong a legacy as The Simpsons.