The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball executive producers Ben Bocquelet and Erik Fountain discuss Season 2 of the beloved series in this interview.
The Wonderfully Wacky World Of Gumball‘s highly anticipated second season is almost upon us. Executive producers Ben Bocquelet and Erik Fountain recently sat down with Mama’s Geeky to discuss the overwhelmingly positive reception of Gumball’s return, the challenges of recasting iconic roles, and the fun of weaving modern-day satire into the fabric of Elmore.
A Genuinely Heartwarming Return For Gumball
The first season’s reception was a huge success, and the executive producers admit to being genuinely relieved and touched by the public’s excitement. Given the long gap between series, there was a real concern that viewers might have moved on.
Ben Bocquelet shared the anxiety leading up to the premiere, stating, “We’re all anxious about coming back on air, but you’re not sure that they will show up.”
He added that the kind and enthusiastic response has only fueled their creative drive: “In truth that we’ve been received with open arms and such kindness and excitement that it really makes us want to do more.”
Erik Fountain echoed this sentiment, admitting his primary fear was “fumbling the ball.” Seeing the immediate embrace from the fanbase was a massive relief. “But then seeing the fans embrace it was a huge sigh of relief,” he said.
Recasting the Iconic Duo Of Gumball & Darwin
One of the biggest hurdles for the returning series was the necessary recasting of the titular characters, Gumball and Darwin. As the original voice actors aged out of the roles, which has happened in the past, finding new talent that could capture the essence of the characters was important.
Fountain noted that fans were somewhat “conditioned” to change, as new voices for Gumball and Darwin have occurred across previous seasons. His concerns were more internal, stating, “I think it was more my own insecurities I was worried about. It’s not fair of me to project that onto the world.”
Bocquelet credited casting director Sarah Noonan for finding actors who not only sounded right but embodied the roles. “It’s not just a question of do they sound alike? It’s can they capture what the characters are like as well?” Bocquelet said. The current cast, he believes, has done a fantastic job.
The producers also noted a delightful synergy between the new actors. Bocquelet observed, “It feels like they became friends while recording,” mirroring the chaotic, yet loving, bond of Gumball and Darwin themselves.
Satirizing Modern Life
The Amazing World of Gumball was celebrated for its witty, meta-commentary on real-world issues and trends, and the new series, The Wonderfully Wacky World Of Gumball, is no exception. Bocquelet admits that the hiatus provided a wealth of material ripe for satire.
“Modern stuff lends itself to being satirized,” Bocquelet remarked. “It’s begging for a beating, if anything. So it was good. We were itching for it, I guess. Five-year gap of just watching the world go around and hating the way it goes.”
Addressing the Cliffhanger: The Rewrite
The producers also touched on the highly anticipated resolution to the cliffhanger that ended the previous series, noting the decision to address it later in Season 2 with a special episode, “The Rewrite,” was an organic one.
“Quite frankly, we wrote it late,” Ben Bocquelet admitted with a laugh. After deciding on an exciting angle, they ran with it. Fountain defended the pacing, believing it made the reveal more meaningful. “It felt appropriate to me too, right? Because then it lets people kind of ease back into the show,” he said.
This approach allowed fans to re-acclimate to the new voice actors and the world of Elmore before diving into the show’s deeper mythology, or “heavy lore stuff.”
Favorite Season 2 Episodes
When asked about specific episodes, both EPs excitedly pointed to several coming soon. Erik Fountain is particularly looking forward to “The Unfollow,” where Gumball and Darwin desperately try to win back their stalker Sarah Gelato’s attention after she unfollows them on social media.
“It really showcases what Gumball has to offer with different techniques,” Fountain explained. “And just the premise is so funny.”
Ben Bocquelet is excited for “The Pants,” a story about Gumball’s inability to cope with Banana Joe starting to wear pants. “It’s an exploration of what does it mean to be naked when you’re a cartoon, really? Or what does it mean to wear clothes at all?” He also teased a fun Yuki and Nicole-centric episode.
The future is bright for fans of Gumball. Ben Bocquelet hopes they “get to do even more.” Given the strong reception and the creative energy the producers clearly still possess, it seems Elmore is here to stay. Be sure to watch the full interview for more behind-the-scenes details.
The Wonderfully Weird World Of Gumball Season 2 starts streaming on Hulu and Disney+ on December 22nd.
