‘The Simpsons’ Executive Producer: The Character Killed Will ‘Stay Dead’

With Season 26 of The Simpsons starting soon, many are wondering about the character that is going to be killed in the premiere episode.

As previously reported by The Inquisitr, the premiere episode is called “Clown in the Dumps,” which could be a reference to Krusty. However, during an interview with Postmedia, Simpsons executive producer Al Jean said that Krusty will not be the character that gets killed off.

Jean also mentioned that there’s a “reason” behind the episode’s title, and there are Simpsons fans that have already figured out whom will be the character that dies.

“The only other thing I will say is that some people have guessed correctly, and some are really, really off. I’m afraid I really can’t give any more clues — it’d blow the secret.”

Yahoo TV writer Dave Nemetz took a guess as to whom will be the character that doesn’t make it past the premiere episode of The Simpsons. Nemetz believes it will be Rabbi Krustofski, Krusty’s father, voiced by Emmy winner Jackie Mason.

Jean had previously stated that the character is voiced by someone who has won an Emmy for his or her work on The Simpsons. And when one reporter asked if the character has any religious affiliation, Jean simply replied, “Yes.”

Jean promised that the Simpsons character that dies will not be coming back in a later episode. Seth McFarlane pulled that stunt with his show Family Guy three weeks after killing off Brian the Dog.

“When we kill them, they stay dead. That’s my motto. In animation, though, you can always have somebody remember somebody else or have a dream about them. I wouldn’t rule that out.”

Entering its 26th year of television, Jean mentioned that he thinks The Simpsons still has some life in it.

“I’m not being glib when I say the future has rarely looked brighter. If you ask me how long the show is going to last, I’d say at least two more years, probably four, maybe more. Nobody’s talked to us about wrapping it up. Nobody.”

Following the Simpsons premiere, Family Guy will make its return, and the episode has the two hit cartoons in a crossover episode. The crossover has already sparked some controversy in regards to a joke in which the punchline – said by Stewie – is, “Your sister’s being raped.”

Jean said the controversial joke shouldn’t affect The Simpsons, and he also praised the episode.

“We signed off on the crossover, but it’s their show. I came to it as a viewer more than anything else. And I can tell you, I’ve seen it. I’ve seen the whole episode. And I loved it. That’s probably my strongest recommendation.”

The Simpsons returns to Fox on Sunday, September 28 at 8 p.m.

[Image credit: Fox via Spoiler TV]