South Park creators reveal hiatus until 2025
A deliberate pause amidst political chaos
In a recent interview, the creators of the iconic animated series South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, announced that the show will not return until 2025. This means that the series will skip the 2024 presidential election, a decision that is both intentional and reflective of their current disinterest in satirizing political figures like Donald Trump. Parker mentioned that they are also “waiting for Paramount to figure all their shit out,” hinting at ongoing issues within the studio.
Paramount’s uncertain future
While Parker and Stone did not elaborate on the specifics, it’s known that Paramount Global has been navigating a proposed sale. The company is in the process of being sold to Skydance, a deal that was agreed upon in early July and valued at approximately $8 billion. Skydance claims the deal has an enterprise value of $28 billion, with Skydance itself valued at $4.75 billion. This corporate turbulence likely contributes to the delay in South Park‘s return.
The challenge of political satire
Stone explained that covering presidential elections has always been a daunting task for the show. “We’ve tried to do South Park through four or five presidential elections, and it is such a hard thing to — it’s such a mind scramble, and it seems like it takes outsized importance,” he said. Parker added, “Obviously, it’s fucking important, but it kind of takes over everything and we just have less fun. I don’t know what more we could possibly say about Trump.”
Recent specials and future plans
The last full season of South Park was its 26th, which aired in 2023 and consisted of six episodes. Since then, Parker and Stone have produced three standalone specials that streamed exclusively on Paramount+: South Park: Joining the Panderverse, South Park (Not Suitable for Children), and South Park: The End of Obesity. The latter special, which targeted weight loss drugs such as Ozempic, streamed in May 2024. These specials will be the last new content from South Park until its anticipated return in 2025.
A personal reflection on South Park’s impact
As a long-time fan of South Park, the show’s hiatus feels like the end of an era. The series has always been a bold and irreverent voice in the world of animation, unafraid to tackle controversial topics with humor and insight. The decision to skip the 2024 election is understandable, given the creators’ fatigue with political satire and the current state of the media landscape. However, it also leaves a void for those of us who have come to rely on South Park for its unique take on current events.
Looking ahead
While the wait until 2025 may seem long, it also offers an opportunity for Parker and Stone to recharge and come back with fresh ideas. The world of South Park is vast and full of potential, and the creators have proven time and again that they can surprise and delight their audience. In the meantime, fans can revisit the show’s extensive catalog and enjoy the recent specials on Paramount+.
For those who haven’t yet seen the latest specials, I highly recommend checking them out. They offer a glimpse into the creative minds of Parker and Stone and provide a taste of what we can expect when South Park returns. Here are the links to the trailers and information pages for the recent specials:
- South Park: Joining the Panderverse
- South Park (Not Suitable for Children)
- South Park: The End of Obesity
In the ever-evolving landscape of television and media, South Park remains a beacon of creativity and satire. While the hiatus may be disappointing, it also holds the promise of a triumphant return. Until then, we can only speculate on what Parker and Stone will bring to the table in 2025.