Earlier this month, Rick and Morty's Justin Roiland was charged with felony domestic violence in Orange County, California, and, as we figured they would, Adult Swim has now decided to sever ties with the show's co-creator.
“Adult Swim has ended its association with Justin Roiland,” Cartoon Network/Boomerang SVP communications Mairie Moore said in a brief statement (via Toonado.com)
The network hasn't even made it halfway through the massive 70-episode order that was commissioned back in 2018, but fans can rest easy, as the show is set to continue with fellow co-creator Dan Harmon serving as lone showrunner.
Some pretty major changes are coming, however.
Roiland also provided the distinctive voices for both Rick and Morty (as well as a number of supporting characters), so the misanthropic time-traveller and his perennially put-upon grandson will have to be recast for season 7 and beyond.
While the network was obviously left with very little choice here, Roiland did an undeniably excellent job voicing these characters, so finding a suitable replacement will be no easy task.
The 42-year-old animator was charged with one count of domestic battery with corporal injury, and one count of false imprisonment by menace, violence, fraud or deceit. The woman in question has not been named, but is believed to be someone Roiland was dating at the time of the alleged incident.
Several pre-trial hearings have already occurred, and Roiland is due to return to court on April 27.