The voice behind Rick Sanchez and Morty Smith, from the popular Adult Swim animated series Rick and Morty, is no longer part of the animated series. Rick and Morty plans to move forward and recast the roles for the upcoming season following the arrest of the show's co-creator for two counts of felony domestic abuse from 2020.
"Adult Swim has ended its association with Justin Roiland," the Rick and Morty Twitter account announced. "Rick and Morty will continue. The talented and dedicated crew are hard at work on Season 7."
— Rick and Morty (@RickandMorty) January 24, 2023
The Orange County District Attorney's office charged Roiland with one count of felony domestic battery with corporal injury and one count of false imprisonment by menace, violence, fraud, and/or deceit. Roiland is currently out on a $50,000 bail after pleading not guilty.
The case doesn't have a trial date yet but the pre-trial will be on April 27.
The alleged incident occurred on January 2020 against a Jane Doe who, at the time, was dating Roiland. Many of the court records regarding the case remain sealed but if found guilty, the voice of Rick and Morty could face seven years in prison.
"To be clear, not only is Justin innocent but we also have every expectation that this matter is on course to be dismissed once the district attorney’s office has completed its methodical review of the evidence," Roiland’s attorney T. Edward Welbourn said.
Following Roiland’s exit from the show, series co-creator Dan Harmon will continue working on the show. Adult Swim has not yet announced who will replace Roiland as Rick and Morty's voice.
The show received a massive 70-episode order in 2018 with Roiland and Harmon signing new long-term deals with Adult Swim. The show has finished six seasons and is scheduled to air until season 10.
In addition to co-creating Rick and Morty, Roiland also founded Squash Games in 2016. The studio recently released the controversial first-person shooter, High on Life, which recently became one of the biggest games on the Game Pass. The studio has yet to issue a statement regarding the charges lobbied against Roiland.
It will also be interesting how Warner Bros. Games reacts to the legal issues facing Roiland. The actor is the voice of several characters for the online fighting game Multiversus. Aside from Rick and Morty, Roiland also voiced Mr. Meeseeks for the fighting game. It wouldn't surprise us if Warner Bros. Discovery drops the characters associated with Roiland.
