The Simpsons has hinted that it will finally give fans something they’ve been waiting for for 35 years in season 36.

The new series of the popular animated favorite returns to Fox this weekend and the first episode could shake the foundation of the show.

“It’s the episode fans have been waiting for since 1989,” the series’ official account on X teased alongside a trailer.

In the new series titled Bart’s Birthday, Marge and Homer’s eldest child celebrates his birthday in a series where none of the characters ever really age.

“Bart is having the most shocking birthday party of his entire life – one that could change everyone in Springfield forever,” Fox teased in a press release.

Given the hype surrounding the episode, fans are wondering what the biggie will be, and there’s speculation that we might finally see the characters age.

“A canon change would be great,” wrote @Smellman426, while @awesometrent328 predicted: “He’s finally turning 11? FINALLY?’

Fan @EvelynDarque added: “You mean something that permanently changes the status quo and not the way Brian dies as a family man?”

Another fan, @nyc_adriana, insisted “it’s about time,” and without going into detail, the Simpsons account responded, “The wait is almost over.”

Writer and producer Michael Price was similarly cryptic, insisting that the first episode of the series is not to be missed.

He tweeted: “You do NOT want to miss this.” A truly epic episode that people will be talking about on Monday. Written by @jessicajconrad, EP by @mattselman and co-run by you.’

The trailer for “Bart’s Birthday” doesn’t reveal much, other than showing the spiky-haired boy outside Moe’s Tavern noticing that “something very strange is going on.”

In another scene, Homer – perhaps taking a page from South Park’s book – tells him, “I’m going to take this new miracle diet cure! I’m going to be skinny, but still have a huge head!”

The episode also sees WWE legend and Hollywood megastar John Cena make his Simpsons debut, with the team revealing his character but keeping all the details secret.

Meanwhile, the new series also promises two “terrifying Halloween episodes”.

In “Treehouse of Horror XXXV,” giant monsters created out of political rage threaten to tear the city apart, a Victorian Mr. Burns is terrified by the ghosts of his mistreated workers on Thanksgiving, and Homer bonds with an alien pair of jeans an unforgettable stop-motion adventure that can only be called “Denim”.

In a bonus special – Treehouse of Horror Presents: Simpsons Wicked This Way Comes – a tattooed man in a mysterious circus sends Lisa into “three strange stories from the innocent 1950s, the spooky retro present and a brutalist future where prestige -TV rules “the world”.

The Simpsons returns to Fox on Sunday.

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