After the TABF-production Harry Shearer will not be part of the main cast in The Simpsons. He has voiced many characters over the years, including Kent Brockman, Mr. Burns, Ned Flanders, Julius Hibbert, Kang, Lenny Leonard, Timothy Lovejoy, Otto Mann, Seymour Skinner, Waylon Smithers and Rainier Wolfcastle. He has been part of the cast since the first episode was aired in 1989. He is leaving the series because he wants the freedom to do other work. In the last four years, he starred in a UK TV series and starred on the London stage. Shearer has, however, said that he will be willing to continue working on the show as long as he can do other stuff too.
Al Jean has stated on Twitter that if Harry Shearer does not return, his characters will be recast.
Hi there. When I heard that Harry Shearer is leaving The Simpsons I thought to myself that it could be over for the series. However, I can see others taking his character rolls and keeping the voice much the same, depending on who is recasted to play: Mr. Burns, for example. If you look to Family Guy and listen to the voices of their characters you will see what I mean. Anyway, I wish to thank Harry for all his years of voice work on the show and for all the years of laughter, thanks to the series.