Making the press rounds at San Diego Comic-Con on Friday,Rick and Mortyco-creatorDan Harmon, alongside co-creator, executive producer, and voice of both titular charactersJustin Roiland, remained relatively coy about revealing any details regarding what the future holds for the lovable albeit sociopathic scientist Rick and his put-upon family in Season 3. We last saw Rick detained in a maximum security prison while The Smiths — matriarch Beth (Sarah Chalke), husband Jerry (Chris Parnell) and their two kids Summer (Spencer Grammer) and Morty — are returned to an Earth that isn’t as familiar to them now that it’s part of the Galactic Federation. It was an emotional cliffhanger rarely experienced in animated television, to say the least.
While Harmon tiptoed through a potential spoiler minefield of journalist questions, he said the Season 3 premiere presented welcomed creative challenges and has “been changed a thousand times”. “Episode 301 is the least compatible with the new viewer because we have so many loose ends to tie up”, he continued. Harmon did confidently proclaim that this season will be “the most epic so far” asRick and Mortycontinues to defy genre expectations while treating plot devices as a non-starter. Basically, twists and turns will abound and character arcs won’t be shackled by the limits of the medium or their back-story.
There is one detail, however, that the tight-lipped Harmon and Roiland were willing to divulge: their dream voiceover guests. For Roiland, “it wasDavid Bowiefor the past two seasons, but sadly that won’t happen now.Dom DeLuiseI think would be nice, orGary Coleman.”
Harmon was locked on one actor in particular. “I just want to meetVin Diesel. I know he playsD&Dso I just want to have a conversation with him about doing it.”
Diesel, with his sonorous, baritone timbre, produced standout VO work inThe Iron GiantandGuardians of the Galaxy, so he’s already proven he could keep up in Harmon and Roiland’s sci-fi-comedy sphere of operations. We can only hope this glorious union comes into fruition
Ricky and MortySeason 3 still has no definitive airdate, and Harmon has refuted any speculation we would see its return this August. Stay tuned as more details emerge.
