The Simpsons Movie returns for sequel after two decades

The Simpsons Movie will return for a sequel 20 years after the original, 20th Century Studios and Disney confirmed on Monday.

Based on Fox's popular and long-running animated sitcom - which follows the lives of Homer, Marge and their three children, Bart, Lisa and Maggie - the as-yet untitled sequel is set to be released on 23 July 2027.

The first film, released in 2007, saw Homer accidentally pollute the water supply of Springfield and then attempt to save his family and city, which had been sealed off under a huge glass dome.

The poster for the new film, shared on various social media platforms, shows a doughnut being grabbed alongside the tagline: "Homer's coming back for seconds."

Excited fans posted in the comments underneath, with many satirising the show's opening credits to show images of Bart writing lines on a school blackboard, which read: "I will not wait 20 years to make another movie."

The Simpsons first appeared in 1987 as cartoon shorts on another US TV show, before getting their own one two years later.

Created by Matt Groening, it has now aired for 37 seasons. And it was recently renewed through to season 40, which will air in 2028/29.

The first movie, directed by David Silverman, grossed an estimated $536 million (£400m) at the global box office, and there had been rumours in the press of a sequel for years but nothing was confirmed until now.

Showrunner Matt Selman recently told Variety that streaming had helped the series not only remain relevant to older viewers but also gain new fans.

"Now, instead of the kids watching it on local TV in the afternoon, they can just watch it all, all the time, all day, all forever," he said.