Summary
- Despite the absence of Justin Roiland, the new voices in Rick and Morty Season 7 demonstrate that his absence doesn't negatively impact the show.
- Fans' initial criticisms of the new voices were premature and unfounded as the replacements capture the essence of the original characters.
- The new voice actors bring their own style to the characters, allowing for potential growth and evolution in the show's future.
The following contains spoilers for Rick and Morty Season 7, Episode 1, "How Poopy Got His Poop Back," which aired Oct. 15 on Adult Swim.
Rick and Morty Season 7 has finally debuted, with fans and non-fans alike tuned in to hear how the show would cope without Justin Roiland. After the co-creator was fired, Dan Harmon and showrunner Scott Marder had the exhaustive task of finding a replacement. It wasn't easy as Roiland voiced the main characters, as well as minor ones like Mr. Poopybutthole.
It did have viewers wondering if Rick and Morty would soldier on to the target of 10 seasons. Throw in things like the SAG-AFTRA writers' strike, it did feel like the empire could be brought to a preemptive halt. It would have been a shame as the property has had talks regarding spinoffs, a Rick and Morty movie with Zack Snyder, and commercials deals with McDonald's and the ilk. Simply put, it's a huge brand. Thankfully, Rick and Morty kicks the new chapter off swimmingly, reiterating that Roiland's voice work is not going to be missed.
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What Happened to Rick and Morty's Justin Roiland?
Roiland faced a litany of accusations, including a domestic violence allegation from 2020. While he was cleared of that in March 2023, the year has also seen sexual assault and abuse allegations levied. It left Harmon ashamed, with Adult Swim moving swiftly to terminate Roiland.
Roiland vehemently denied everything, leaving his fans wondering what would happen to the other shows he led. Solar Opposites re-casted his roles, appointing Dan Stevens as Korvo. That said, Harmon and Marder had already indicated Rick and Morty were way down the lines of terms of storytelling, so all they needed were new voices to act as Rick and his grandson. Harmon also had his own shows like Krapopolis going, as well as Apple TV+'s Strange Planet, so it did feel like this separation from Roiland had already occurred spiritually.
Marder even indicated Roiland wasn't part of the creative process for years. He just did his voice work, which created a bridge that some employees needed after citing Roiland was toxic on the show. Nonetheless, Marder and Harmon had a Herculean task listening to thousands voices before they landed on the right choices. In the end, they decided on Ian Cardoni as Rick, Harry Belden as Morty, and John Allen as Poopybutthole. As they told The Hollywood Reporter, it wasn't an easy task listening to thousands of voices, but they felt confident they got the right guys in. Still, they didn't reveal the new names until the premiere to avoid the drama, knowing how hostile and judgmental the internet fandom could be.
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Why Fans Didn't Take Initially to the New Rick and Morty
When the Rick and Morty Season 7 trailer came out, some people chided it. They felt like Morty was a bit muted and Rick wasn't hitting certain notes, especially the high ones. One has to remember, however, just chirping out a few iconic lines is way different from living, breathing and conversing as the character. To that point, Roiland will never be duplicated. It's not realistic in any case to think someone's vocals could ever be replicated perfectly. That said, there would always be a lot of scrutiny for a property like Rick and Morty, and a high-pressure situation where everyone would analyze every little detail in a bubble.
Sadly, they don't look at context to see what informs the lines, or listen to how the delivery trails into other lines. It's a trailer, after all. Some criticisms had merit, but this was a case where the viewership needed to exhibit patience and see what the full episode would offer. After the airing of the first episode, it pays dividends because it's very difficult to tell anything changed. To that point, non-fans who have no idea of the swap can't tell the difference. A vast majority of loyalists think it's all flowing well too, reiterating there's nothing to be worried about. It was, at best, very early panic.
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What Works for the New Rick and Morty
After the Season 7 debut, it's safe to say everything works. Even if one nitpicks, Rick sounds almost the same, as does Morty. Allen even nails it as Mr. Poopybutthole. There's no reason to burn the show to the ground, or wish artificial intelligence could duplicate Roiland; the replacements feel as natural as can be. Of course, they mimic the original voice actor as is the nature of voice over work, but It's still done in their own style. The intonations, idiosyncrasies, enunciation and timing still feel as if Roiland's spirit lives on with these characters.
It's best seen when Morty complains that they need to get Poopybutthole out their living room. Beldan nails the nervousness, anxiety and frustration synonymous with the character. Cardoni also perfects the sarcastic and bitter Rick when he decides to help his buddy get over a failed relationship. Rick doesn't do the iconic drinking and burping much, so it's possible that's being changed. Still, his caustic style is there in spades as Cardoni really speaks like the nihilist of old that pop culture keeps soaking up.
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The Rick and Morty Swap Helps the Future
In the end, unless one does a deep-dive and audible audit equivalent of a squint when looking at a photo, the changes are barely noticeable. They even hint at how the franchise can grow. Belden's voice is perfect for a teen Morty growing, experiencing puberty, and having his voice slightly crack. Cardoni's slightly lower tone would also work well for Evil Rick (aka Rick Prime). He needs to be distinguished a bit as the sinister villain hunting Rick's family, so this might well be a blessing in disguise. They can prolong the shelf life of the series and keep the brand running at a time when comics, anime and many other media take a bite out the property.
Ultimately, Sunday's Adult Swim premiere underscores the angle of evolution through separation. Even Harmon's name was cut from the opening sequence. The move may have been intended to avoid name-checking Roiland, with Harmon happy to pay the price as well. But this further emphasizes what was apparent even before Roiland's acrimonious exit. Rick and Morty isn't defined by its creators, regardless of their actions outside the show. By liberating the series and moving on with lesser-known names, the microscope is peeled back, allowing the current creative team to breathe a bit more and deliver the comedic excellence fans have come to expect.
​​​​​​​Rick and Morty airs Sundays at 11:00 p.m. ET on Adult Swim.