It appears that, after more than three decades, the the franchise that began as At the Movies with Siskel and Ebert and later became Ebert and Roeper is about to go dark. Richard Roeper, longtime Chicago columnist and media critic, joined the movie review program eight seasons ago. Recently, with Roger Ebert sidelined by a variety of health issues in recent years, Roeper anchored the show with a rotating cast of foils. Today, Roeper released a statement that indicates that he won’t be rejoining the show:

“Several months ago, Disney offered to extend my contract, which expires at the conclusion of the 2007-08 season,” Roeper said. “I opted to wait. Much transpired after that behind the scenes, but an agreement was never reached, and we are all moving on.”

Early reports seem to indicate that Roeper will land a deal with another national TV distributor to do a show similar to At the Movies. Meanwhile, Disney will re-tool the show and continue on without either Roeper or Ebert.

Ebert posted a statement on his website, confirming that his involvement with Disney and At the Movies is, in fact, finished:

After 33 years on the air, 23 of them with Disney, the studio has decided to take the program named “Siskel & Ebert” and then “Ebert & Roeper” in a new direction. I will no longer be associated with it.

Rosenthal’s coverage here. Feder’s coverege here.