Rick And Morty season 7 was released on October 15, with one noticeable difference from its predecessors – the absence of its co-creator Justin Roiland.
Mr Roiland was axed from the show while he was embroiled in a lawsuit stemming from an alleged incident in 2020.
However, the cartoon creator was acquitted in March, but the changes to the famous sitcom were already in effect.
So what exactly was Justin Roiland accused of? And why do the characters’ voices change in Rick and Morty?
Find out by reading below.
Changes: Justin Roiland has appeared in every season of Rick And Morty since he and Dan Harmon co-created the series
Sounds different? Both Rick (right) and Morty (left) have new voice actors for the new season, which premiered on October 15th
What was Justin Roiland accused of?
Justin Roiland has been charged with domestic violence in connection with an alleged incident with an unnamed former girlfriend in 2020.
The case did not become public knowledge until January 2023, when Mr. Roiland appeared in a California court and pleaded not guilty, although criminal charges were first filed in May 2020.
He also pleaded not guilty to one count of false imprisonment.
The publication of these allegations was followed by further allegations, including of inappropriate behavior in the workplace.
In March 2023, Mr. Roiland was acquitted, and a spokeswoman for the Orange County District Attorney’s Office confirmed to Variety that the charges were dismissed “because there was insufficient evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Mr Roiland then tweeted: “I always knew these claims were false – and I never had any doubt that this day would come.”
“I am grateful that this case has been dismissed, but at the same time I am still deeply shocked by the terrible lies that were told about me during this trial.”
However, Adult Swim – the cable network that hosts Rick And Morty – had already dropped the show’s co-creator in the months since the accusation became public, leaving Dan Harmon as the sole showrunner.
Acquitted: Mr Roiland was acquitted of domestic violence in March 2023 due to “insufficient evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt”.
Moving on: However, Adult Swim had already announced that it wanted to continue the series without its co-creator
Why did the voices of Rick and Morty’s characters change?
The fallout from dropping Mr. Roiland was significant, requiring the voices of the series’ title characters to be recast.
For the first six seasons, both Rick and Morty were voiced by the show’s now-expelled co-creator, with Ian Cardoni and Harry Belden filling in the respective gaps.
The show’s new stars were kept secret until the seventh season premieres on October 15. An Adult Swim insider said: “We want the show to speak for itself.”
“We believe in the strength of the season and our new voices and want to preserve the viewing experience for fans,” they told Hollywood Reporter.
How to watch Rick And Morty Season 7
The 7th season of Rick And Morty will air in 10 episodes on the US cable channel Adult Swim.
Without cable, fans of the show in the US will have to wait until 2024 to stream the series, with past seasons available to watch on Hulu and Max.
In Australia and New Zealand, new episodes will be available on Netflix after each premiere.
UK viewers can watch the new release on E4 from October 17th.
The series is locked through Season 10 as part of a 2018 70-episode order from Adult Swim.
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