Rick and Morty fans are speculating that ousted creator and voice actor Justin Roiland will be replaced by an AI after he was accused of sexual harassment and predatory behavior

With just over a month left until the new season of Rick & Morty, fans are speculating that ousted co-creator/voice actor Justin Roiland will be replaced by AI

Roiland, 43, portrayed both mad scientist Rick Sanchez and his 14-year-old grandson Morty Smith on the hit Adult Swim series, which premiered in 2013. The new season starts on October 15th.

The broadcaster cut ties with Roiland in January 2023 after his previously unreported arrest for assault and false imprisonment in 2020 was made public. However, the criminal charges against him were dropped in March 2023 due to lack of evidence, although there is no evidence of him returning to the show.

Adult Swim announced shortly after the arrest was made public that Roiland had been fired and the characters he voices – which also includes Noob Noob, Mr. Poopybutthole and Naruto Smith – would be recast.

Executive producer Steven Levy revealed to fans at San Diego Comic-Con in July that there will be “sound-alikes” that will sound like the characters did when Roiland voiced them… although there are a lot of them now Reddit are convinced that Roiland will be replaced by AI

Replacement: With just over a month left until the new season of Rick & Morty, fans are speculating that ousted co-creator/voice actor Justin Roiland will be replaced by AI

New season: Roiland, 43, portrayed both mad scientist Rick Sanchez and his 14-year-old grandson Morty Smith on the hit Adult Swim series that premiered in 2013. The premiere of the new season is scheduled for October 15th.

“I mean, the timing is perfect, don’t you think? “AI is becoming a reality where this could be the case,” the Reddit poster reads, although the post was ultimately removed by moderators.

However, even though the post was removed, many Reddit users rejected this suggestion, especially since it is one of the main points of contention in both the current actors’ and writers’ strikes.

“Worst idea I’ve ever heard in my life,” Redditor illvria wrote, while jayozWAR added, “I really hope that’s not the case.”

Both the WGA and SAG-AFTRA are seeking to regulate the use of AI, with concerns that it could be used to replace screenwriters entirely.

The actors also oppose the use of full body scans, which could be used forever by studios after paying the actor just a flat fee for the likeness.

Rick and Morty executive producer Steven Levy told fans at San Diego Comic-Con in July that they were close to finalizing the recast.

“We’re nearing the end of our rewrite process, but I want to say it’s going to be great,” said executive producer Steven Levy.

“I’m deeply impressed with everything that’s going on, including all the work on Season 7. That’s really what I don’t want to overshadow.” “The show is as good as it’s ever been,” he added added.

Timing: “I mean, the timing is perfect, don’t you think?” “AI is becoming a reality where this could be the case,” the Reddit poster says, although the post was ultimately removed by moderators

Strikes: Although the post was removed, many Reddit users rejected this suggestion, particularly because it is one of the main points of contention in both the ongoing actors’ and writers’ strikes.

Worst idea: “Worst idea I’ve ever heard in my life,” Redditor illvria wrote, while jayozWAR added, “I really hope that’s not the case.”

Conclusion: Rick and Morty executive producer Steven Levy told fans at San Diego Comic-Con in July that they were close to completing the recasting process

When asked by a fan in the audience if the new voice actors would sound the same, Levy had this to say.

“It’s tonally similar.” The characters are the same characters. “No change,” Levy said, which was met with thunderous applause from the Comic-Con crowd.

But even if they are “similar voices,” the replacement voice actors have yet to be announced for a few weeks until the season begins, which has fueled AI speculation.

It’s also worth noting that Rick and Morty is an animated series whose employees are represented by The Annimation Guild (TAG), not the WGA or SAG-AFTRA.