It's been a long time, but Futurama has finally returned. Four years after the show went off the air, the first new episode of the beloved animated series has arrived. It may not be an actual TV episode, but this double-sized episode of The Nerdist Podcast is the real deal. It is a fully-produced episode of Futurama with the entire creative team back. This is what Futurama fans have been waiting for.

Nerdist released the new episode of Futurama today, which reunites the Planet Express crew for a brand new mission that ties into the recently released Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow mobile game. While on a routine mission to Junkleon 7, the crew encounters Klaxxon, a nefarious life form composed entirely of soundwaves from 21st-century podcasts. Nerdist founder Chris Hardwick, who hosts and stars in the new Futurama episode, helped bring this to life and had this to say about it in a statement.

"Last year I cornered two fine gentlemen, Matt Groening & David X. Cohen, and pitched the idea of doing a new Futurama episode as a podcast/radio play because it's one of my favorite things and I need more of it. Today I am drooling with unfiltered joy to say that a) it's actually happening, b) I got to voice the villain (Klaxxon), and c) I'm a freaking head in a jar in Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow, a game I've been feverishly playing since it came out. Galaxies of thanks to Matt, David and TinyCo for acquiescing to the maniacal ravings of a well-meaning fanboy."

Even though it isn't happening on TV, this Futurama episode is about as authentic as it gets. Series creators Matt Groening and David X. Cohen crafted the episode with some of the Futurama writers and managed to get the entire cast on board as well. Fry (Billy West), Bender (John DiMaggio), Leela (Katey Sagal), Professor Farnsworth (Billy West), Zoidberg (Billy West), Amy (Lauren Tom), and Hermes (Phil LaMarr) are all back in the episode. plus Borax Kid and Calculon show up, with a revival of the soap opera All My Circuits to ice the cake. This is definitely good news, everyone. Here's what David X. Cohen had to say about the project.

"Futurama has set off a strangely sci-fi-ish paradox where the episodes inspired the Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow game, and now the game is inspiring new episodes. Hooray for infinite loops!"

Futurama originally aired on Fox before the network canceled the show in 2003. Comedy Central stepped in and revived the show in 2010 for two more seasons before officially ending in 2013. Though, fans have been very vocal about their desire to see the show return in some form. It may just be a one off, but this is something Futurama fans can enjoy. If it goes well, maybe we'll get more in future. For now, you can check out the brand new Futurama episode of The Nerdist Podcast for yourself below.