Giovana Gelhoren
Updated on: October 11, 2024 4:24 pm GMT
Creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone have announced that their influential animated series, *South Park*, will return in 2025, deliberately avoiding the upcoming 2024 presidential election cycle and the possibility of addressing longstanding political figure Donald Trump. After nearly three decades of pushing boundaries in animated satire, the duo expressed a desire to move on from what they perceive as an exhausting political landscape and to focus on other creative opportunities.
A Shift in Approach Toward Political Satire
In a candid conversation with *Vanity Fair*, Stone expressed the challenges of parodying Trump, particularly as he runs for president for a third consecutive time. “We’ve tried to do *South Park* through four or five presidential elections. It’s such a mind scramble,” Stone stated. Parker echoed this sentiment, asserting, “I don’t know what more we could possibly say about Trump. It kind of takes over everything and we just have less fun.”
Rather than delve into the complexities of the political arena, Parker and Stone are opting for a break. The decision to skip the 2024 election cycle was intentional, with Stone affirming their choice to sidestep Trump-related humor, stating, “Honestly, it’s on purpose.”
Upcoming Projects and Casa Bonita
While *South Park* fans will need to wait until 2025 for new episodes, Parker and Stone have not been idle. Their recent documentary, *¡Casa Bonita Mi Amor!*, which premiered at the Telluride Film Festival, has garnered significant attention. The film chronicles their venture in purchasing and restoring Casa Bonita, a beloved Mexican restaurant in Lakewood, Colorado, which has historical ties to the show through an iconic episode.
Casa Bonita has remained a cultural staple in Colorado since the show’s early days, and its revival has become a labor of love for Parker and Stone. “It was a seemingly doomed attempt at revitalization,” Parker described, highlighting the challenges they faced throughout the project, which was documented in *¡Casa Bonita Mi Amor!*. The film is set to be released in select theaters and streamed on Paramount+ later this year.
A Local Landmark with Personal Significance
Casa Bonita holds special meaning for both creators, not only as a nostalgic reference from their show but also as a representation of their roots in Colorado. Parker emphasized the emotional connection, recalling how their return to Colorado felt markedly different from when they first began. In the past, they faced criticism from their home state, especially after the release of their 1999 film, *South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut*. Today, however, they feel welcomed back and appreciated by their local community.
Parker reflected on the cultural transformation of Colorado, saying, “It’s just so different culturally now with the internet and everything.” The journey through Casa Bonita’s renovation has provided intimate insight into the duo’s personal evolution and their relationship with the surrounding community.
Adapting to the Current Entertainment Landscape
In their quest to remain relevant in an ever-changing entertainment industry, Parker and Stone have expressed a blend of admiration and envy towards emerging platforms, particularly TikTok. Stone mentioned his appreciation for the short, punchy formats that create a vast array of humorous content. “We both just have endless respect for that,” he stated, acknowledging the shift towards quicker comedic deliveries in modern media.
Despite this, Parker reiterated their commitment to the storytelling aspect of their work, emphasizing that the complexity of developing a narrative is a crucial part of their craft. “Writing a story and building a frame so that you can do more complicated stuff” remains at the core of their creative process.
The Future of *South Park*
As *South Park* approaches its landmark 30th season, the creators remain focused on delivering meaningful content rather than chasing the current political climate. “It’s way more fun to be like, ‘Oh, Cartman’s going to dress up like a robot,’” Stone remarked, highlighting their creative direction away from politics and back toward character-driven storylines.
With the announced hiatus in political satire, fans can expect a return to the show’s roots in humor and absurdity, leaving behind the complexities of real-world conflicts for a bit.
Parker and Stone are clearly at a pivotal point in their careers, as they weigh the demands of a beloved series against the shifting landscapes of culture and politics. Their thoughtful approach suggests that when *South Park* does return, it will reflect both their evolving creative vision and a broader cultural context, perhaps reinvigorated by their recent experiences and successes.
In a time when everyone seems to have something to say about politics, the makers of *South Park* are taking a different path. They want to stay true to their art and work on projects that really matter to them. Fans are looking forward to their return in 2025, and it sounds like they will be focusing more on the fun and interesting characters we love, which should bring some exciting changes to the show!
