The Simpsons Movie sequel is the perfect time to bring back one of the best villains from the show’s Golden Age. The Simpsons is approaching season 40, further enshrining it in the TV lexicon. However, it’s worth remembering just how much of a success The Simpsons Movie was when it hit theaters, earning strong reviews and great box-office returns.

Now that Disney is moving forward with a second Simpsons movie, it’s worth considering who could appear and what that story could be. If fans are lucky, then the sequel could run with an idea for that first film that was ultimately dropped and bring back one of the best minor villains in the show’s entire run.

The Simpsons Movie Sequel Should Bring Back Hank Scorpio

The Simpsons Movie is officially getting a sequel, and it’s the perfect opportunity to bring back one of the show’s best ever one-off villains, Hank Scorpio. There’s not a lot known about The Simpsons Movie sequel beyond the announcement poster. That includes the potential villain, which (like the first movie) could be an original character.

However, it’s worth remembering that Russ Cargill, the evil head of the EPA and the cental villain of The Simpsons Movie, wasn’t the original antagonist for the movie. Instead, the movie’s main threat was intended to be a different Albert Brooks character who had been introduced in season 6’s “You Only Move Twice,” Hank Scorpio.

The head of the Globex Corporation, Scorpio was quickly established as a personable and cheerful employer who quickly befriended Homer. Much of the episode’s plot centered around Homer finally feeling appreciated and accomplished at his job in Cypress Creek, only to discover that the family isn’t fitting in and that they need to return to Springfield.

The real comedic concept of the episode was that Scorpio was a James Bond-style villain who Homer was inadvertently helping take over the world without ever fully realizing it. “You Only Move Twice” is one of the most beloved episodes of the entire series, so it makes sense why the creatives of the film considered bringing him back.

Ultimately, Russ Cargill was a good compromise — an original character who utilized Albert Brooks’ ability to be hilarious and menacing in quick succession, without the need to explain a returning character or spend time reintroducing him. However, the time might be right for Hank to return, and a second Simpsons movie is the perfect place to do it.

Hank Scorpio Is The Perfect Simpsons Villain For Right Now

The gag about Hank being a wealthy technocrat who is also a supervillain was funny in 1996, but takes on some additional depth in 2025. The state of the world economy has been shifted in the favor of technocrats, and Hank Scorpio doesn’t seem as far fetched of a concept as he did when he debuted almost three decades ago.

It’s not uncommon for billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk to be compared to supervillains, especially within the world of The Simpsons. Scorpio could take that comparison even further, giving the sequel a clear satirical focus that would be in line with the more progressive politics that the show has been more openly indulging in recent seasons.

Hank’s possible return also presents an interesting challenge for the Simpsons family. Hank and Homer got along great, a dynamic that could be revisited in the present day. However, this could be in contrast to the more socially conscious Lisa of recent seasons, setting up the plot to focus on the Homer and Lisa dynamic as a central emotional arc.

Lisa was largely sidelined in the first movie, with a greater emphasis placed on Homer’s relationship to Bart and Marge. Bringing back Hank could allow Lisa to take center stage by opposing him. Hank’s return would be an event given his enduring popularity, and there’s no greater stage for that kind of turn than on the big screen.

Hank also has the natural gravitas to be a genuine threat to not just Springfield but potentially the entire world, justifying him as a movie villain instead of bringing him back for the show. Hank has only reappeared in the show in cameo form, so having him return now would feel like a genuine comeback for the villain.

One of the reasons Hank was subbed out for Russ Cargill in The Simpsons Movie was that as a returning character, the film would need to spend too much time rehashing his backstory and connection to Homer. However, the classic episodes of The Simpsons being readily available on Disney+ makes his return easier to explain or set-up for broader audiences.

It would also just be a lot of fun to have Scorpio back. Hank stands out as one of the show’s best ever one-off characters, his sweeter side contrasting against his gleefully villainous actions to great comedic effect. Hank has always deserved a comeback, and The Simpsons Movie 2 is the perfect time to do that.