Featured Image Credit: Adult Swim
Topics: TV And Film, Real Life
Rick and Morty voice actor Justin Roiland will not be re-hired by Adult Swim despite his recent domestic abuse charges being dropped.
Roiland was accused of domestic abuse and false imprisonment, to which he pleaded not guilty. Shortly after the allegations came out, Adult Swim cut ties with Roiland, saying that the voice actor would be replaced for future seasons of Rick and Morty, in which he voiced Rick, Morty and a number of other characters.
The charges were later dropped, leading to a statement from Roiland that said: “I'm thankful that this case has been dismissed but, at the same time, I'm still deeply shaken by the horrible lies that were reported about me during this process.
“I'm so disappointed that so many people were so quick to judge without knowing the facts, based solely on the word of an embittered ex trying to bypass due process and have me 'cancelled’”.
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Roiland had hoped he could move on from the charges and rebuild his tarnished career, which will no longer include returning to the Rick and Morty show. Cartoon Network president Michael Ouweleen recently spoke about the studio’s plans to proceed with a replacement for Roiland, which is currently in its “recruitment phase”.
Ouweleen said: “It's a rather unique situation … I'll take an example: there have been several great Bugs Bunny voice actors, and I love what Jeff Bennett has done with them.
"But it's not Mel Blanc! And yet we recognize the character. I even think that for Rick and Morty we will do even better... It will be fine. It'll be great."
It’s currently unclear who’s in the running to replace Roiland as a voice actor, though it’s safe to the say the decision has split the fanbase down the middle, with many supporting Adult Swim’s decision to distance themselves from Roiland, and others who believe the show should have brought him back or been cancelled.
Rick and Morty will soon be entering its seventh season, though no release date has been given as of yet. However, it’s believed new episodes will be premiering later this year.