''The Simpsons' to get first hour long episode - a hip hop special.

The animated comedy TV show is to get a double-length episode titled 'The Great Phatsby', and will be a rap homage to the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel 'The Great Gatsby'.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, the show's executive producer Matt Selman said: "This was just going to be a regular episode, but the table read went so well, in a fit of passion and excitement and ambition and excess, we decided to super-size it. We haven't done a huge amount of stories in the world of hip hop and rap culture, so we just went for it."

The episode will feature 'Empire' actress Taraji P. Henson - who will play a similar role to her 'Empire' character Cookie Lyon - as a guest star, and follows the story of Mr. Burns' friendship with a charismatic rapper named Jay G.

The news of 'The Simpsons' hour-long TV special follows executive producer Al Jean's tease that there could be another 'Simpsons Movie'.

Jeans said: "We talk about it, but if we do it, we only want to do it if it's going to be really good. We would never do it just to cash in, so if it comes out, it's because we believe in it."

The news also comes after Jean revealed last year that he believes the show will end after its 30th series, though no end date is confirmed.

He said: "I wouldn't be stunned if we stopped at 28, but my bet is at least 30.

But then you'd have to resign them again. If you made me pick one, I'd say the likeliest is ending after 30, but I've been wrong before. I thought five seasons was good when we got there!"