With just over a month to go until the new season of Rick & Morty, fans are speculating that ousted co-creator/voice actor Justin Roiland will be replaced by A.I.
Roiland, 43, portrayed both mad scientist Rick Sanchez and his 14-year-old grandson Morty Smith on the hit Adult Swim series, which debuted in 2013, with the new season set to debut on October 15.
The network cut ties with Roiland in January 2023, after his previously unreported 2020 arrest for domestic battery and false imprisonment was made public, although criminal charges against him were dropped in March 2023 due to lack of evidence, although no leads that he returns to the show.
Adult Swim revealed shortly after the arrest was made public that Roiland had been fired and that the characters he portrays – including Noob Noob, Mr. Poopybutthole and Naruto Smith – would be recast.
Executive producer Steven Levy revealed to fans at San Diego Comic-Con in July that there will be “sound-alikes” that will sound like the characters did when Roiland voiced them… although there are a lot of them now Reddit are confident that Roiland will be replaced by AI
Replacement: With just over a month to go until the new season of Rick & Morty, fans are speculating that ousted co-creator/voice actor Justin Roiland will be replaced by A.I.
New season: Roiland, 43, voiced both mad scientist Rick Sanchez and his 14-year-old grandson Morty Smith on the hit Adult Swim series, which debuted in 2013, with the new season set to debut on October 15.
“I mean, the timing is perfect, don’t you think? AI is becoming a reality where it could be,” the Reddit poster said, although the post was eventually deleted by moderators.
But even though the post was deleted, many Redditors took issue with these suggestions, especially since it’s one of the main points of contention in both the ongoing actors and writers strikes.
“Worst idea I’ve ever heard in my life,” Redditor illvria wrote, while jayozWAR added, “I really hope this isn’t the case.”
Both the WGA and SAG-AFTRA are pushing for regulation of the use of AI, amid concerns that it could be used to completely replace screenwriters.
The actors are also against the use of full body scans which can be used by the studios forever after paying the actor just one lump sum for the likeness.
Rick and Morty executive producer Steven Levy told fans at San Diego Comic-Con in July that they were “close” to completing the recasting process.
“We’re nearing the end of our recast process, but I want to say it’s going to be great,” said executive producer Steven Levy.
“I’m really impressed with everything that’s happening, including all the work on Season 7. That’s really something I don’t want to be overshadowed. The show is as good as it has ever been,” he added.
Timing: ‘I mean, the timing is perfect, don’t you think? AI is becoming a reality where it could be,” the Reddit poster said, although the post was eventually deleted by moderators.
Strikes: Although the post was removed, many Redditors objected to these suggestions, especially since it is one of the main points of contention in both the ongoing actor and writer strikes.
Worst idea: “Worst idea I’ve ever heard in my life,” wrote Redditor illvria, while jayozWAR added: “I really hope this isn’t the case”
Close: Rick and Morty executive producer Steven Levy told fans at San Diego Comic-Con in July that they were ‘close’ to completing the recasting process
When asked by a fan in the audience if the new voice actors will sound the same, Levy said the following.
‘It’s the same sound. The characters are the same characters. No change,” said Levy, who was met with thunderous applause from the Comic-Con crowd.
But even if they are sound-alikes, the replacement voice cast members have yet to be announced with just a few weeks to go until the season starts, which has fueled AI speculation.
It’s also worth noting that Rick and Morty is an animated show whose employees are represented by The Annimation Guild (TAG), and not the WGA or SAG-AFTRA.