The Adult Swim animated comedy was renewed for additional installments before creators Zach Hadel and Michael Cusack decided to end it after Season 3, a decision they previously attributed to burnout and concerns about maintaining the show’s quality.
Now, however, the duo has offered a more hopeful update on the possibility of returning to the series.
The Creators Already Have Season 4 Material
Cusack revealed that the pair had already begun developing material for a potential fourth season before deciding to walk away. The scripts are not necessarily finished episodes ready for production, but enough work exists that the creators could revisit it if they eventually decide to bring the series back.
“We had scripts ready for season four, even if it was draft-y,” Cusack explained. He added that, if he and Hadel eventually feel like making “Smiling Friends” again, they could return to that material and determine whether it is worth developing or whether they would rather start over.
When asked to put a number on the likelihood of more episodes, Hadel initially suggested that the chances were somewhere around 25% or 30%. His answer quickly became less definitive, however, as he acknowledged that his feelings about the possibility can change considerably.
“Some days, it’s 60. Some days, it’s 80. Some days, it’s 20,” Hadel said. “It really does change day to day. But it’s not zero.”
There is no confirmed Season 4 in production, but the possibility of a return remains open. For now, “Smiling Friends” has ended with its third part, while the creators have left themselves the option of revisiting the material they already developed if they eventually decide the time is right.