As he faces felony domestic abuse charges from a former relationship, Justin Roiland has been fired from Rick and Morty with plans to reportedly recast the show's voice roles. Roiland co-created the hit Adult Swim animated comedy series with Community vet Dan Harmon, based on a Back to the Future parody short, and also stars as both the titular mad scientist and his grandson as they venture through the multiverse on bizarre and poignant adventures. With the show scoring widespread acclaim and strong ratings for the network, Rick and Morty is set to continue through season 10, though will be missing one of its most central figures.
The official Rick and Morty Twitter has revealed that Adult Swim has officially cut ties with series star and co-creator Justin Roiland.
The announcement post does assure that the series will continue without Roiland at the helm and that the creative team behind the series are hard at work on season 7. A subsequent report from The Hollywood Reporter indicates that Roiland's voice will be recast for the show's future while Dan Harmon will now be credited as Rick and Morty's sole showrunner.
Roiland's Rick and Morty Firing Explained
News of his Rick and Morty firing comes nearly two weeks after it was reported that Roiland had been charged with one count of domestic battery with corporal injury and one count of false imprisonment back in 2020 in his home of Orange County, California. Filed by a Jane Doe whom he was in a dating relationship at the time, Roiland initially pleaded not guilty and was released on a $50,000 bond August that year, with his attorney issuing a statement more recently asserting his client's innocence and hopes of clearing the Rick and Morty co-creator's name. A protective order was reportedly filed against at the time of the initial charges, with reports also indicating Roiland had been presented with a plea deal during a recent pre-trial hearing.
Upon the initial reporting, it was unclear how Rick and Morty would progress in the light of Roiland's felony charges, with Adult Swim remaining silent on the matter at the time of the reports earlier this month. Similarly, Hulu has remained quiet on how they will be responding to the situation, with no word on whether Solar Opposites seasons 4 and 5 will move forward without Roiland and leave showrunner Mike McMahan credited as sole creator and recast the central role of family leader, Korvo. However, with Adult Swim having cut their ties with him, it seems likely the streaming platform will do the same sometime in the near future if they don't wait for the outcome of Roiland's April hearing.
How Many Rick and Morty Characters Will Have To Be Recast
With Roiland being cut from the show, Rick and Morty has a lot of characters it will need to recast should Adult Swim move forward with the reported plans to replace the series' co-creator. In addition to the titular mad scientist and his grandson, Roiland is the voice behind over 30 other characters in the series, including multiple variants of Rick and fan-favorite ing characters Mr. Meeseeks and Mr. Poopybutthole, among others. Given the news is still fresh, only time will tell how Rick and Morty will forge ahead without Roiland in the voice booth.
Sources: THR & Adult Swim/Twitter