Network Adult Swim has announced a parting of ways with “Rick and Morty” co-creator and voice actor Justin Roiland. Stemming from Roiland’s recent charge of felony domestic abuse, Adult Swim has “ended its association with Justin Roiland.”
Additionally, while Roiland will no longer be a part of “Ricky and Morty,” the show will continue for a planned seventh season. Adult swim issued the announcement earlier Tuesday (Jan. 24) via the official “Rick and Morty” Twitter account.
— Rick and Morty (@RickandMorty) January 24, 2023
Justin Roiland Is Gone From ‘Rick and Morty’
Roiland co-created the popular animated series alongside “Community” creator Dan Harmon. Roiland is also the voice actor for both of the show’s central characters: anti-hero Rick Sanchez, and his grandson Morty Smith.
Adult Swim previously ordered a huge 70-episode order for “Rick and Morty” back in 2018. The series has not even reached half of the order. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the plan is to continue the show with Roiland’s roles being recast. Roiland will reportedly continue receiving his credit as a co-creator. Meanwhile, co-creator Dan Harmon will stay on board as the lone showrunner moving forward.
Great wrap ups are rare pic.twitter.com/AFHpsxg4cK
— Rick and Morty (@RickandMorty) January 10, 2023
“Rick and Morty’s” current episode order is expected to take it up to Season 10 on Adult Swim, so it appears that the show is set up to continue for the time being without Roiland. However, Roiland is a prolific creator and performer with projects across multiple networks and streaming platforms. After the show’s debut in 2013, “Rick and Morty” soon became one of the most popular shows in Adult Swim history.
Roiland has two other animated shows on Hulu: “Solar Opposites” and “Koala Man.” He’s also listed as the co-creator of “Solar Opposites” with Mike McMahan, and he also voices the show’s main protagonist Korvo. The show has been a success for the streamer, with Hulu renewing the show for a fourth season back in 2021, per Deadline.
Roiland’s production company, Justin Roiland’s Solo Vanity Card Productions, also works on the new Hulu animated series, “Koala Man,” which recently debuted on the streamer earlier this month. He did voice work and executive produced the show as well.
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The creator is also the co-founder of the gaming development studio, Squanch Games, which recently launched the FPS shooter “High on Life,” for which he voiced multiple characters in the game. How Hulu, 20th Television, and Squanch Games move forward on the Roiland issue remains to be seen.
It was first reported by NBC News earlier this month that Roiland was charged with domestic battery and false imprisonment in May 2020 after an incident with a woman he was said to be dating at the time. He was later arrested and released on a $50,000 bond in August of that year. His arraignment took place in October when he pleaded not guilty to both charges.
The case is still awaiting a trial date after a number of court hearings and pre-trial hearings. THR noted that Roiland’s attorney, T. Edward Welbourn, said that media coverage of the issue has been “inaccurate.” Welbourn also reportedly stated, “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.”
