The original pilot ofRick and Mortyconcluded with one of the show’s most hilariously unhinged moments: a drunken Rick incoherently rambling about how his own show will run for one hundred years as Morty lies on his back, convulsing due to the side effects of rectally-inserted Mega Seeds. As funny as that scene was, nobody could’ve predicted that it would actually foreshadow the show’s future.Rick and Mortywas quickly signed on for 70 additional episodes following its first few seasons, marking the single largest episode order in Adult Swim history and signifying just how much of a cultural juggernaut it had become since its debut.
But things are different now. Co-creator and voice actor of the show’s title characters, Justin Roiland, has been officially ousted from the show following significant controversies surrounding his workplace behaviors and conduct outside the show’s production. The show itself has evolved and changed since its silly pilot, jumping between scrapping its own continuity to wholeheartedly embracing it with dramatic storylines. In the middle of all of this, co-creator Dan Harmon – who has since transferred showrunning duties to Scott Marder – has come out withfuture plans forRick and Morty, per The Hollywood Reporter.
DoesRick and Mortyhave a plan for when everything is all said and done? Will a feature film serve to cap off the adventures of our cynical scientific duo? Will we really get one hundred years ofRick and Morty? Let’s talk about it.
Rick and Morty Forever
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Dan Harmon spoke out about the longevity ofRick and Mortyas a whole. Aside from discussing plans for a feature film, which also prompted asecret discussion with Zack Snyder, Harmon found himself exploring the future of the series now that they’re drawing closer to the end of their episode order. He mentioned that, should it be allowed, the series is more than capable of running for 100 seasons. In his own words, “It’s designed to.”
He’s not wrong. The series very quickly established itself as having few boundaries to restrain itas early as season one, with “Rick Potion #9” delivering one of the series' strongest moments to date. Even if the world were to end in a mutant Cronenberg disaster, Rick can simply find an alternate universe and start things anew, existential dilemmas notwithstanding. Of course, this is just one of the bizarre scenarios the show has conjured up over the years. Often, the series’most hilarious episodestended to be the most experimental, with a notable example being the fourth wall-demolishing spectacle, “Never Ricking Morty.”
When Harmon spoke of a feature film, he thought of it less as something to conclude the series and more as the titular duo’s biggest adventure yet. It would work alongside the series instead of capping it off with a giant finale. With the shifts in direction we’ve seen over the series' run so far, it’s more than possible thatRick and Mortycould last for years, if not decades, should the creative team behind the scenes keep delivering engaging stories.
Explained: Here’s What Makes Rick and Morty So Popular
Rick and Morty has one of the most devoted (and sometimes derided) fanbases of any TV show. These are a few reasons why.
How Will Rick and Morty End?
Which brings us to the big question: what will ultimately happen whenRick and Mortyhas to finally say goodbye? How do you conclude a series that famously associated itself with the notion that “nobody exists on purpose” and that “nobody belongs anywhere?” Would it really matter at the end of the day?
Harmon suggested an idea in his discussion with The Hollywood Reporter. It was simple: Morty would simply grow up. He would find a girlfriend, discover his own desire for independence, and likely distance himself from his past life of adventuring with his grandfather. We still have a long way to go before the series ends, but it was made clear that Harmon showed a genuine interest in the idea. It would be an ending that feels appropriate, given how they’ve toyed with independence from Rick in the past.
It’s no secret that Rick isn’t a good person; quite the opposite, actually. As early as season three, Morty’s mother, Beth, toyed with the idea of leaving her father completely in “The ABC’s of Beth,” where she comes to a terrifying realization that she’s more like Rick than she previously thought. The episode ends ominously, with Beth given an intriguing offer by Rick: she could leave Earth, explore the universe of her own volition, and be free of him for good, provided she leaves behind a perfect clone of herself on Earth. It wouldn’t be revealed until a season later in “Star Mort Rickturn of the Jerri” that, when asked by Beth to decide for her, Rick simply mixed the two Beths up and randomly sent them in either direction, unable to make a decision of his own volition.
Exclusive: Teenage Euthanasia Showrunners Alissa Nutting and Alyson Levy Are Just Getting Started
The creators of Adult Swim’s Teenage Euthanasia look back on season two, that wild roster of guest stars & tease even bigger things to come.
Though Rick has top billing in the show’s title, the series is increasingly becoming less about Rick himself and more about his impact on others. Morty especially takes the brunt of Rick’smanipulative behaviors and self-destructive tendencies, and we’ve seen him frequently push back against Rick’s oppressive nature throughout the entire series. That being said, the duo’s connection with each other can’t be ignored. The Citadel, formerly known as the Citadel of Ricks, was originally comprised of the infinite combinations of every single Rick and Morty in the multiverse. The duo shared some of their most emotionally charged moments together. One of them even turned into a pickle.
Some have theorized that Morty is supposed to, at least partially, be a representation of the audience. Despite his flaws, he’s arguably the most grounded character in the series next to his sister, Summer, despite being more frequently exposed to Rick’s otherworldly adventures. Through him, we’ve seen some of the best and worst that Rick is capable of. Would it not be appropriate then for the series to conclude with Morty finally walking away, just as the audience does? Would it not be a perfect send-off for a series that, quite literally, started with Rick drunkenly stumbling into Morty’s life?
We’ll just have to wait and see what happens when the current monolithic episode order is fully completed.Rick and Mortyhas made a name for itself by frequently changing its own status quo, meaning we may have a completely different show by the time it all comes to an end. For now, let’s see how wellrecasting the show’s leadswill go.
