The news came via the Hungarian outlet Mentrum, which specializes in cable television. In an article reviewing upcoming premieres on channels like Nickelodeon and Disney Channel, the site also included Cartoon Network, detailing that the new series Regular Show: Lost Tapes will arrive in May. Later, it reaffirmed the information on its Facebook page."
For now, the information corresponds to the CEE feed (Central and Eastern Europe), the signal broadcast in Hungary. However, if we take as precedent the recent international launch of the The Amazing World of Gumball revival—titled in Spanish El maravillosamente extraño mundo de Gumball—, which debuted in multiple territories on the same day, it wouldn't be surprising if we're looking at another globally coordinated premiere for the various Cartoon Network feeds, including Boing in Spain. This would also entail the global streaming launch of the series on HBO Max.
The exception could be Canada, where it was previously reported that Regular Show: Lost Tapes would premiere on Adult Swim. This is because the signals there are operated by Corus Entertainment and not directly by Warner Bros. Discovery. In fact, in that territory, the Gumball return airs on YTV instead of Cartoon Network.
It's speculated that the chosen date could be Friday, May 1st, coinciding with International Workers' Day—a not insignificant nod for a series centered around two rather particular employees—, though this has not yet been officially confirmed."
What still raises doubts is its broadcast in the United States. In recent years, Cartoon Network has significantly reduced its original production in that market, sharing time slots with Adult Swim and relying more and more on classic catalog titles and external acquisitions. In that context, the Gumball return premiered exclusively on the Hulu platform, without appearing on HBO Max or the linear channel.
Even so, it's worth noting that Regular Show has regained presence in Cartoon Network's linear programming globally, including the United States, Europe, and Latin America. In some markets, it even occupies more space in the schedule than more recent productions like Craig of the Creek, Teen Titans Go!, and We Baby Bears.
It should be clarified that, so far, the information has not been officially confirmed by Cartoon Network, HBO Max, or Warner Bros. Discovery. Therefore, these are preliminary data subject to possible changes in scheduling. As is usual in these cases, it will be necessary to wait for a formal announcement from the company to have certainties about the date and scope of the premiere.
Created by J. G. Quintel, the original series aired for eight seasons between 2010 and 2017 and had a television movie in 2015. The story follows Mordecai and Rigby, two gardeners expert at dodging responsibilities who turn the simplest tasks into monumental chaos. In the process, they drag their coworkers—Skips, Pops, Muscle Man, High Five Ghost—and their boss Benson into situations that escalate absurdly quickly: what starts as a regular shift can end in a zombie apocalypse, an interdimensional showdown, or outright the end of the world.
The franchise has also shown signs of revitalization outside of television. It recently had a collaboration with Fortnite, which incorporated playable skins of Mordecai and Skips, Rigby as a pet, and various cosmetics designed for fans. Additionally, the collectible brand Youtooz launched a series of figures of Mordecai, Rigby, and Skips inspired by iconic moments from the series. Likewise, Cartoon Network UK, the international arm of Cartoon Network, created an official Instagram account for the series.
Regular Show: Lost Tapes was announced in June 2024 during the Annecy International Animation Film Festival as a project in the early stages of development, though already greenlit. The subtitle “Lost Tapes” could allude to “lost” episodes or new stories set in the early years of the series. And there's a detail that fuels that theory: in the series finale, it's revealed that the entire show was contained on a VHS tape that Pops watches in the sky, a metanarrative device that today seems more relevant than ever. Like its predecessor, it is produced by Cartoon Network Studios.
It is not the only revival of a beloved Cartoon Network series on the way, as this year should also see the premieres of Adventure Time: Side Quests and Foster's Funtime for Imaginary Friends, inspired by Adventure Time and Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends.
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