‘Rick and Morty’ is recasting Justin Roiland for Season 7
Justin Roiland’s term as the titular offbeat pairing of Rick Sanchez and Morty Smith is truly over, with the show officially on the hunt for a new replacement voice actor.
The co-creator and star of Adult Swim phenom Rick and Morty was booted from the show earlier this year, following the public unveiling of felony domestic violence charges and a widespread denouncement of inappropriate and abusive behavior among cast and crew. On Jan. 24, the show announced Roiland’s departure and reassured fans that the show would continue. The charges against Roiland have since been dismissed.
Cartoon Network president Michael Ouweleen and executive producer Steve Levy spoke about the show’s upcoming seventh season at France’s Annecy International Festival, saying that the show was officially searching for a new voice actor and that they don’t believe “anyone will bat an eyelid hearing the new voices.”
It’s the first confirmation from any of Roiland’s shows that the actor will be replaced. The showrunners likened the change to the replacement of famous Bugs Bunny voice actor Mel Blanc. “I love what Jeff Bennett has done with [Bugs],” Ouweleen said. “But it’s not Mel Blanc! And yet we recognize the character.”
The new season is expected to air on the same schedule as its predecessors, which hints at a fall release date.