Highlights
- Rick and Morty season 7 has started, despite controversy over the recasting of the show's titular characters.
- Co-creator Justin Roiland was removed from the show following domestic violence charges.
- Creator Dan Harmon believes the new voice actors capture the essence of Rick and Morty, and most fans are accepting of the change.
With Rick and Morty season 7 underway, series creator Dan Harmon has responded to criticism surrounding the new voice actors for the show’s titular characters, both of whom were recast following a controversy.
Rick and Morty season 7 production was in full swing when it was revealed to the general public that co-creator Justin Roiland was charged with felony domestic violence. This led to his removal from almost all active roles in ongoing projects, including losing his voice-acting job in his shows Solar Opposites and Rick and Morty, where he voiced both lead characters and extras.
Despite this roadblock, the seventh season would eventually start airing, and the new Rick and Morty voice actors were revealed to be Cardoni and Harry Belden, respectively, a decision some fans were less than happy about. Speaking to Gizmodo, the show’s other creator, Harmon, addressed the segment of fans complaining about the change. According to Harmon, most fans are understanding of the situation.
I think the silent majority and healthy majority are like, ‘Okay, this is as good as you can manage.' The characters are still alive. That was the goal from the outset; fans of the show, consider them fans of the characters, and they just want to continue to watch the show and feel that those characters are still alive, and it seems that we were successful in that mission. I think that there is an air of religious zealotry to the people that are insisting that the voices are somehow unignorably, catastrophically different. I think that most people seem to be saying, ‘Okay, it sounds like Rick, and it sounds like Morty, let’s proceed.
The fans must continue watching the show with the new voices. Roiland recently faced new misconduct allegations, making it impossible to return to his pubic roles or voice acting gigs in good faith. This seems clear to the majority of fans, as Harmon alluded to in the interview, with only a minority of people taking issue with the new voice talent and an even more minuscule section of those daring to suggest that Roiland returns to the role, even in jest.
Harmon finally spoke out on the Roiland accusations recently, revealing that the alleged abuser had isolated himself from his colleges quite effectively, and the news had come as a shock and a source of anger and regret for the community that had been hurt and potentially endangered by his lack of foresight on the issue. The co-creator has seemingly had his fill of the controversy and is eager to move on from all association with Roiland, including his position as the original voice of Harmon's most popular creations. While the fans are certainly welcome to disagree with a decision taken by the showrunner, it's plain to see why Harmon is unwilling to hear anyone out on this one.
Rick and Morty is better off without Justin Roiland, creatively and in terms of the show’s good standing with fans. With a potential return nowhere on the table, those with misgivings about the new voices might have no recourse but to accept the notably impressive approximations by Cardoni and Belden so the characters can stay alive.
Rick and Morty season 7 premieres new episodes on Sundays on Adult Swim.
Rick and Morty
An animated series that follows the exploits of a super scientist and his not-so-bright grandson.
Source: Gizmodo
