We hope you’re not getting sick of Rick & Morty, because its creators show no signs of stopping.
In an interview with TheWrap, co-creators Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon spoke about the show’s potential longevity. “I think the show could run forever,” Roiland said.
The madcap adventures of drunkard scientist Rick Sanchez and dweeby grandson Morty Smith quickly became a fan-favorite for television network Adult Swim after premiering in 2013. Following its third season, the show was given an unprecedented 70 episode renewal, amounting to over three additional seasons. The show’s sixth season is set to premiere on Sunday, September 4th.
However, according to Roiland, they’ve just scratched the surface. “I think we could easily run this thing into Season 20 if we wanted, if the network wanted and if the fans wanted.”
Harmon echoed this sentiment. “It just feels infinite,” he said. “I think a good TV show is one that lasts 1000 episodes. You don’t design a paper airplane to land at a certain spot a certain distance for you. A good paper airplane is the one that stays in the air forever, and that’s impossible but you fold it in a way that that’s the goal.”
They may reach that number at the speed they’re going. According to Harmon, the show is being produced at the pace of “a season a year,” an unprecedented production timeline for any animated show. “[Showrunner] Scott [Marder] is able to keep us on a schedule that mostly involves being so ahead of schedule that we can actually release things in a timely manner.”
But won’t they run out of ideas? Roiland doesn’t think so. “Our foundation is so broad,” Roiland added. “We’ve got the multiverse, we’ve got any sci-fi concept we want. There’s too many ideas, so it wouldn’t be for lack of content in a show like this.”
The show’s unpredictable nature is key to its success; no two episodes are ever alike. Plus, thanks to the writing team’s boundless creativity, they are always able to write themselves out of a potential corner. “There’s always been a commitment in the DNA of the show to not engage in so much soap opera-ness that there’s an inevitable conclusion coming,” Harmon said.
“We’ve certainly got elements that can only happen once as far as revelations about Rick and stuff like that, but I do believe that the adventures can go on for theoretically 1000 episodes.”
Rick & Morty have proven to be staple characters for the Warner Bros. brand. The show has inspired unending merchandise, as well as video games, comic books, and even claymated shorts. Most recently, they were announced as playable characters for the studios’ flagship character brawler “MultiVersus,” much to the excitement of fans.
It’s no surprise the show will continue, but for 1000 episodes? That will be a sight to see.
Larry Fried is a filmmaker, writer, and podcaster based in New Jersey. He is the host and creator of the podcast “My Favorite Movie is…,” a podcast dedicated to helping filmmakers make somebody’s next favorite movie. He is also the Visual Content Manager for Special Olympics New Jersey, an organization dedicated to competition and training opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities across the Garden State.
