Rick and Morty team give an update on the recasting process for the main characters during San Diego Comic-Con panel.
In addition to creating Rick and Morty alongside Dan Harmon, Justin Roiland also voiced the two main characters for close to a decade, but when the actor was charged with felony domestic abuse, Adult Swim was quick to end their association with him. Instead of ending the series, it was decided that the roles of Rick and Morty would be recast and the Adult Swim team has given an update on the process at a San Diego Comic-Con panel.
“We are closing in on the end of our process of the recast,” said Rick and Morty executive producer Steve Levy. “It’s gonna be great. I am thoroughly impressed with everything that’s going on, including all the work on season seven.” Levy added that he didn’t want the recasting to take attention away from the work the Rick and Morty team has been doing. “The show is as good as it’s ever been,” Levy said.
While Steve Levy may not want to put too much attention on the Rick and Morty recasting, I don’t envy whoever has to step into Justin Roiland’s shoes. Levy confirmed that the new voices will be as close as possible to Roiland’s versions. “It’s soundalikes,” Levy said. “The characters are the same characters — no change.” When the seventh season does premiere, I’d imagine that those voices will be dissected by fans no matter how close they are.
While Rick and Morty are sticking with soundalikes, Solar Opposites has gone in a different direction. Justin Roiland voiced Korvo on the Animated Hulu series and it was announced that month that Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey) would be replacing him.
Those domestic abuse charges against Justin Roiland were dismissed in March. “This case was dismissed as a result of insufficient evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt,” said Orange County District Attorney’s Office spokesperson Kimberly Edds. Justin Roiland took to social media to comment on the charges against him being dismissed. “I have always known that these claims were false — and I never had any doubt that this day would come,” Roiland said. “I’m thankful that this case has been dismissed but, at the same time, I’m still deeply shaken by the horrible lies that were reported about me during this process. Most of all, I’m disappointed that so many people were so quick to judge without knowing the facts.”