The Simpsons star Nancy Cartwright has predicted when she thinks the long-running animated series will finally come to an end.
Cartwright, who has voiced Bart Simpson since the show began, was asked about the future of the series during an appearance on Michael Rosenbaum's Inside Of You podcast.
When asked when she thought The Simpsons would finish, Cartwright simply replied: "40 [seasons]."
"You think it'll stop at 40?" Rosenbaum asked.
"Yeah," Cartwright confirmed.
"You’re sure?" he asked.
"It's my opinion," she replied.
Bart, Nancy Cartwright, Matt Groening, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, Homer at the Matt Groening Star Ceremony on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on February 14, 2012. Kathy Hutchins, Shutterstock
The Simpsons recently finished its 37th season and will return for its 38th season next month.
The show has already been renewed through its 40th season, meaning Cartwright's prediction would put the end of the series in 2029.
However, Cartwright made it clear that she is not personally ready to leave the show.
When asked if she would continue if the series was renewed beyond season 40, she replied: "Absolutely."
Nancy Cartwright. Kathy Hutchins, Shutterstock
Cartwright has played Bart since The Simpsons became a full series in 1989. She has remained one of the show's most recognisable cast members throughout its 37 seasons.
The actress also recently spoke about the possibility of being replaced by artificial intelligence.
Cartwright said she would prefer to choose her own successor rather than have AI recreate her voice.
"I think I would choose a successor instead of AI," she said earlier this year.
She argued that AI could copy her voice but could not replace the emotion behind her performance.
"I got passion," she said. "We're spiritual beings, we can emote passion and uplift people and stuff."
@officialnancycartwrightWeirdest Place I Was Asked To Voice Bart Simpson ♬ [Raw recording] Record playback noise 01 (3 minutes) - Icy Light
The Simpsons is also preparing to return to the big screen.
A sequel to The Simpsons Movie is currently in the works and is due to be released in cinemas on 3 September 2027.
The original The Simpsons Movie was released in 2007, meaning the sequel will arrive around 20 years after the first film.
The sequel was officially confirmed by 20th Century Studios last year, although plot details are still being kept under wraps.
Four Lego Simpsons minifigures. Ekaterina Minaeva, Shutterstock
The timing has also caught the attention of fans because of an old Simpsons joke.
Following the release of the first movie, Bart wrote on the chalkboard during a Season 19 episode: "I will not wait 20 years to make another movie."
The upcoming sequel will arrive almost exactly two decades after the original film, giving fans another example of The Simpsons appearing to predict the future.
For now, Cartwright's prediction means fans could have around three more seasons of the series before it potentially comes to an end.
However, her comments also make clear that she would be happy to keep playing Bart if The Simpsons continues beyond season 40.
