Following the cutting of ties between Adult Swim and Justin Roiland, it has been revealed that Rick and Morty will recast both its title characters. Not only that, but the studio has also promised that the hugely popular series will continue until at least Season 10, as it makes Rick and Morty co-creator Dan Harmon the lone showrunner.
“Sources say Rick and Morty is set to continue, with Roiland’s voice roles to be recast. Though Roiland will always be credited as co-creator, fellow co-creator Dan Harmon will now be the lone showrunner. The show is locked in through season 10.”
Coming courtesy of a report by The Hollywood Reporter, Justin Roiland has performed the voices of both mad-scientist Rick and his grandson Morty since the beginning of the series, with a lot of the dialogue between the pair being improvised. However, it is not yet known who the studio will cast in the roles for the show’s return.
Created and executive produced by Community’s Dan Harmon alongside Adventure Times' Justin Roiland, Rick and Morty is a half-hour animated series that follows a sociopathic genius scientist who consistently drags his inherently timid grandson on insanely dangerous adventures across the universe and multiple other universes. Alongside Roiland, the core cast of Rick and Morty includes Chris Parnell as the loveably foolish father of the family, Jerry Smith; Scrubs star Sarah Chalke as the dissatisfied horse surgeon Beth Smith; and Spencer Grammer as conventional and often superficial teenage daughter Summer Smith.
Rick and Morty has been critically acclaimed since it debuted in 2013, thanks to its original humor, meta-approach, and ability to deftly leap from clever plotting to toilet humor. A seventh season has been confirmed to already be in development, with Rick and Morty having been previously renewed for as many as 70 episodes, which are to be spread out over an undetermined number of seasons.
Adult Swim Has Now Cut Ties with Justin Roiland Following the Co-Creator's Legal Issues
Justin Roiland has now been dropped by Adult Swim following the actor, writer, and director’s ongoing legal issues. Roiland was recently charged and arrested with felony domestic battery and false imprisonment in Orange County, California, following accusations from an unnamed woman who Roiland was reportedly dating.
“Adult Swim has ended its association with Justin Roiland,” the studio said in a short statement. “Rick and Morty will continue. The talented and dedicated crew are hard at work on Season 7.”
In response to the charges, Roiland’s attorney has described the accusations as “inaccurate," adding, “To be clear, not only is Justin innocent, but we also have every expectation that this matter is on course to be dismissed once the district attorney’s office has completed its methodical review of the evidence.”
The sixth season of Rick and Morty aired at the end of last year, concluding in December, and once again follows Rick Sanchez and Morty Smith as they embark on all manner of inter-dimensional adventures. A seventh season of Rick and Morty is currently in development and is expected to debut sometime in 2023.