For nearly four decades, The Simpsons has outlived television trends, network changes, and countless predictions that Springfield’s story must eventually end. Now, The Simpsons, ending after Season 40, is back in the spotlight after Bart Simpson's voice actress, Nancy Cartwright, revealed that she thinks the iconic sitcom could finally call it quits. With Season 40 already locked in, her prediction suddenly feels a lot less like a joke and a lot more like a countdown.

Could Springfield really be heading toward its final season? Cartwright thinks the answer may come sooner than fans expect.

During an appearance on Michael Rosenbaum’s Inside of You podcast, Nancy Cartwright was asked how long she thinks The Simpsons will continue. Without hesitation, Cartwright replied, "40 [seasons].” When Rosenbaum pressed her on whether she really believed the show would stop there, the actress doubled down, making clear that this was her personal prediction rather than an official announcement. With Season 37 already wrapped and Season 38 on the way, that would put the potential ending around spring 2029.

“How long do you think The Simpsons will go?” host Michael Rosenbaum asked.

 “40 [seasons].” Cartwright responded.

Of course, Cartwright is not exactly campaigning to retire Bart. When asked whether she had to continue if the show wanted to go beyond Season 40, she essentially gave the only answer that matters for a cast member who has spent nearly 40 years voicing one of television’s most recognizable characters. She said she would keep going “absolutely” as long as everyone was still around and able to continue on the podcast. Fox, meanwhile, has renewed The Simpsons through Season 40, while a representative for the series declined to comment on Cartwright’s prediction.

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But before Springfield starts preparing for a possible goodbye, it is worth remembering just how ridiculously far The Simpsons has already gone.

Before The Simpsons became a television institution, it was simply the Fox sitcom that dared to make America’s most dysfunctional family the center of primetime. Since its 1989 debut, the series has transformed from a rebellious animated experiment into the longest-running scripted primetime series in television history, recently securing its future through Season 40 and reaching a staggering 858 episodes. Its staying power is almost absurd at this point, but so is the cultural footprint it has built along the way.

The numbers only make the legacy more ridiculous. The Simpsons has collected 37 Primetime Emmy Awards, 34 Annie Awards, eight People’s Choice Awards, and two Peabody Awards, while Time named it the Best TV Show of the 20th Century and The A.V. Club called it television’s crowning achievement. The franchise has also conquered beyond the small screen, with The Simpsons Movie earning more than $530 million worldwide in 2007 and merchandise generating an estimated $2 billion for Fox by 1997. Even Springfield’s residents eventually got Hollywood’s highest honor, receiving their own star on the Walk of Fame in 2000.

Whether Season 40 becomes The Simpsons’ final chapter remains firmly in the realm of speculation for now. 

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Do you think The Simpsons should finally end with Season 40, or should Springfield keep causing chaos for as long as the cast is willing? Let us know in the comments.