Could Futurama get new life on FOX?

If rumors are true, FOX may be considering resurrecting Futurama for its Sunday lineup, the same way it did with Family Guy last year.

Futurama initially aired on FOX in March 1999, and was canceled after 72 episodes. The network has been criticized by fans for its treatment of the show.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, FOX has an option for new episodes, which "currently are being produced for Cartoon Network's Adult Swim programming block." It's unclear whether that's fuzzy wording, or if new episodes are, indeed, being produced for Adult Swim, which now airs reruns.

In an interview last month with the Onion A.V. Club, Futurama creator Matt Groening talked about plans for four feature-length direct-to-DVD movies, triggered by the series' DVD sales and high ratings on Adult Swim.

"One of the great things about this whole process is the fans have always been unbelievably supportive and encouraging, so it's fun to be able to give them what they want, which is more Futurama," Groening said.

When asked whether there was a chance Futurama could return to television, Groening said, "Certainly. That's always a possibility. Look at the example of Family Guy, which came back from the dead and is walking among us."