After weeks of fan outcry over “Rick and Morty” not being renewed for a fourth season on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim block, co-creator Justin Roiland broke news of the network’s undisputed ratings powerhouse being signed-on for 70 new episodes.
Mike Pompeo met with Kim Jong Un in North Korea last week. Meeting went very smoothly and a good relationship was formed. Details of Summit are being worked out now. Denuclearization will be a great thing for World, but also for North Korea!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 18, 2018
To the relief of millions of Szechuan-sauce-loving fans everywhere, who can’t get enough of drunk super genius Rick Sanchez and his adventures with his favorite grandson, “Rick and Morty” will be sticking around for a good while.
With news of the 70-episode order for the current 31-episode series, it is clear the network is aiming for broadcast syndication.
Once a television series reaches an episode milestone, which ranges between 80 to 100 episodes, it becomes eligible for other networks to purchase the rights to air reruns.
The show received critical acclaim since it premiered in 2013 for its trademark style of storytelling, which explores unexpectedly deep existential concepts through unorthodox, self-aware and loose comedy.
For everyone telling me to get back to work on Rick and Morty (season four) turn your attention to Turner. I’m waiting around just like you. Making some cool video games in the meantime though! @squanchgames
— Justin Roiland (@JustinRoiland) March 22, 2018
I hear ya, tough spot. On one hand, it can be challenging, especially with crippling lazy alcoholism, to write a show that hasn’t been ordered by a network. On the other hand, the thought that fans like you pay the price…I mean…I’m gonna grab a drink https://t.co/mvn9nthxCE
— Dan Harmon (@danharmon) March 17, 2018
“Rick and Morty” has been notorious for making its viewership wait long periods to “get schwifty” again in-between seasons.
Following the show’s first season, fans had to wait through a year-long gap until season two premiered.
That wait time jumped to 18 months between the second season’s cliffhanger finale and season three’s premier, leaving fans to wonder just how long they would have to wait for season four.
While season three didn’t end on a cliffhanger this time around, the finale left many plot threads unresolved, notably the aftermath of Evil Morty’s Trump-esque rise to the presidency in the Citadel of Ricks or Birdperson and Tammy’s whereabouts after Rick collapsed the Galactic Federation.
However, no one predicted the future of this sci-fi comedy was in jeopardy.
Fans found out the status of “Rick and Morty” was in limbo after its third season when co-creator Dan Harmon revealed Cartoon Network hadn’t even ordered a fourth season yet.
Once news broke on why the show’s creators hadn’t even begun working on season four, fans came en masse to push for its swift renewal directly at Adult Swim.
Atlest let rick and morty have their 4th season
— 5"11ButStillPapì (@EvensliveL) April 4, 2018
Give us a 4th season of Rick and Morty and I’ll tell you.
— Austin Cardin (@Austin_Cardin13) April 8, 2018
You must be talking about not renewing Rick and Morty…
— Cross (@Jtoms2) April 12, 2018
While there is still no telling just how long fans will have to wait to see new adventures from the dimension-hopping duo, now that production can finally move forward, they can rest easy at least knowing there’s a fresh batch of new episodes well on their way.