The U.S. cable network Comedy Central has ordered 26 new episodes of "Futurama," the sci-fi animated series Fox canceled six years ago.

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A 20th Century Fox Television representative confirmed the news to EW.com, citing the show's popularity on DVD and as reruns on Comedy Central as the reason for its revival.

Fresh installments of Matt Groening and David X. Cohen's cult-classic series are expected to begin airing in 2010, EW.com said.

"When we brought back 'Family Guy' several years ago, everyone said that it was a once-in-a-lifetime thing -- that canceled series stay canceled and cannot be revived," 20th Century Fox TV Chairmen Gary Newman and Dana Walden said in a joint statement. "But 'Futurama' was another series that fans simply demanded we bring back, and we couldn't have been happier when Matt and David agreed that there were many more stories yet to tell."

"We're thrilled 'Futurama' is coming back. We now have only 25,766 episodes to make before we catch up with Bender and Fry in the year 3000," Groening added.