In a shocking twist, the Season 7 premiere of Adult Swim's hit animated series Rick and Morty revealed who has stepped in to replace Justin Roiland as the voices of Rick Sanchez and Morty Smith. Roiland, who co-created the show and voiced its two title characters since the very beginning, unexpectedly departed the show prior to the production of the new season.
Pic by: Adult Swim
Fans tuning in to the Season 7 opener, titled "The Rickplacement," were treated to their first glimpses at veteran voice actors Spencer Breslin and Andy Richter taking over the roles of Rick and Morty respectively. While Breslin and Richter both have decades of voice work experience between them, big shoes were left to fill after Roiland's memorable and distinct vocal performances defined the characters for the past six seasons.
The episode addressed the change head-on with its opening scene. Rick and Morty are shown getting into a freak accident involving Rick's portal gun that damages their brains. They wake up in the hospital where the doctor, voiced by show co-creator Dan Harmon, explains they needed "memory transplants" and may act a little differently. This allows the characters' personalities to remain the same while transitioning to new voice actors.
Breslin's gruff yet sarcastic take on Rick was a promising start. While he lacks Roiland's flair for improvisation, Breslin captured Rick's cynical wit and disdain for authority. Richter brought his trademark deadpan delivery to Morty's signature nervous stammering. Fans got their first taste of the new dynamic as Rick drags a reluctant Morty into a new interdimensional misadventure.
The episode also poked fun at the voice change. When Morty questions why Rick suddenly sounds different, Rick handwaves it away, saying "Who cares? I sound cool as hell now." This nod to the elephant in the room drew laughs from the live studio audience.
Early social media reaction has been mixed. While some praised Breslin and Richter for stepping into big roles, most comments expressed sadness and disbelief at losing Roiland's original take on the characters. Only time will tell if viewers continue tuning in without Roiland at the mic or if ratings take a dip.
Breslin and Richter face an uphill battle winning over the passionate Rick and Morty fandom, who have grown attached to Roiland's five-season defining work. This season serves as a test of whether the irreverent humor and sci-fi hijinks can survive such a major change to its leading voices. Fans will be keeping a close watch to see if Breslin and Richter can truly make the roles their own.
In a statement, Harmon reassured fans that Rick and Morty's signature style of humor and storytelling would not change. "We hope that over time the audience will come to appreciate Spencer and Andy's talents as we have. This show is about evolution and change, even if it comes unexpectedly. I believe the spirit of these characters lives on in their new voices." Only continued viewing of Season 7 will tell if Harmon's faith in the new direction is warranted.
So in summary, while big shoes were left to fill, the Season 7 premiere introduced viewers to Spencer Breslin and Andy Richter's takes on Rick and Morty. Whether they can win over diehard fans long accustomed to Justin Roiland remains to be seen as the new season continues to unfold.
