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Wikileaks' Julian Assange to star on The Simpsons | Wikileaks' Julian Assange to star on The Simpsons |
(2 days later) | |
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is to guest star on animated comedy The Simpsons, it has been confirmed. | Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is to guest star on animated comedy The Simpsons, it has been confirmed. |
The 500th episode will see the family moving to an isolated house and finding themselves living next to Assange. | The 500th episode will see the family moving to an isolated house and finding themselves living next to Assange. |
Fox said Assange, currently under house arrest while he appeals against his extradition to Sweden over alleged sex offences - which he denies - recorded his lines from the UK. | |
The new episode will be broadcast in the US on 19 February. | The new episode will be broadcast in the US on 19 February. |
The Simpsons' executive producer Al Jean told Entertainment Weekly that series creator Matt Groening heard a rumour that Assange was interested in guest-starring on the series. | The Simpsons' executive producer Al Jean told Entertainment Weekly that series creator Matt Groening heard a rumour that Assange was interested in guest-starring on the series. |
"We asked our casting director Bonnie Pietila - who had been able to unearth Thomas Pynchon and got Tony Blair to do the show - to find Mr Assange. And she did," Jean said. | "We asked our casting director Bonnie Pietila - who had been able to unearth Thomas Pynchon and got Tony Blair to do the show - to find Mr Assange. And she did," Jean said. |
Jean added the show's creative team realised Assange was "controversial" but they avoided delving into "the legal situation that he's in". | Jean added the show's creative team realised Assange was "controversial" but they avoided delving into "the legal situation that he's in". |
"We wanted to make sure it was satirical, and he was willing to do that," he said. | "We wanted to make sure it was satirical, and he was willing to do that," he said. |
Last year's guests included 24 star Kiefer Sutherland, chef Gordon Ramsay and Glee's Jane Lynch. |
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