Adult Swim’s powerhouse series “Rick and Morty” is back for its fourth season, premiering Nov. 10 at 11:30 p.m.
It will consist of five episodes, with more coming at some point in 2020. Fan-favorite characters such as Mr. Poopybutthole, Gearhead and the army of helpful Meeseeks are featured in a new preview trailer for the season, released on Oct. 7.
Potential plots include the titular duo exploring the world of magic, Morty getting infested by some parasite and facing a scenario where he slowly dies along with some kind of treasure hunt as the two enter a booby-trapped temple.
The season also features guest stars such as Paul Giamatti, Sam Neil, Kathleen Turner and Taika Waititi.
The very passionate fanbase of the show had a mixed reaction to this announcement, as the two-year wait between season three and four was the longest break in the history of the series, which is known for long production times.
The voiceover in the trailer pokes fun at this with the line, “Half the season you deserve, all the season we could handle.”
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Season four comes after a long renewal process, where Adult Swim granted creators Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon 70 new episodes to produce as part of a long term deal.
“I think it’s safe to say without fear of being wrong that the gap between seasons three and four will be the longest and last time that it’s ever so long that it’s ridiculous,” Harmon said in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter in July. “I don’t know how fast we can do it, but I know it will never be this long again. There were so many things that had to be settled before we even started season four.”
The duo pushed for the renewal to ensure job security and to justify putting their sole focus on the show.
In other news regarding “Rick and Morty,” J. Michael Mendel, a four-time Emmy-winning producer of the series, passed away at the age of 54 on Sept. 22, 2019. He was a substantial part of the show’s production from its beginning in 2013.
“My friend, partner, and line producer Mike Mendel passed away,” Roiland tweeted following his death. “I am devastated. My heart breaks for his family. I don’t know what I’m going to do without you by my side Mike. I’m destroyed.”
“I can’t handle seeing his cropped photo in headlines with the word dead in them,” Harmon wrote on Instagram. “…I took Mike for granted. He was always needed and he was always there. He’s going to be needed tomorrow and he won’t be there. The wound will scar but there will be a hole through everything we do from now on.”
“Rick and Morty” is one of Adult Swim’s most successful shows, as the season three finale delivered the network its highest rating in history. The show also holds the title of the #1 comedy on TV with millennials.
Henry Wolski
Associate Editor