Though the Dan Harmon show is animated, Rick and Morty had a live-action interpretation in 2021, and it was about as weird as anyone could expect. Since its premiere in 2013, Rick and Morty has run for eight seasons. The raunchy buddy comedy features the misadventures of mad scientist Rick Sanchez and his anxious grandson, Morty Smith. Together, assisted by Rick’s creations, they explore the depths of the sci-fi world, traveling between alternate universes and meeting alien species. Since its creation, Rick and Morty has had several spin-offs, though none have been as successful as the original show.
Many audiences love Rick and Morty's quick wit and unique storytelling, spoofing many common science fiction elements. These jokes often require pushing the boundaries of animation, utilizing art to showcase different scientific plot points, and making fun of familiar sci-fi tropes. Though brief, Rick and Morty also received a live-action rendition in 2021, which was just as weird as the show itself.
The Promos Featured Notable And Recognizable Actors
To promote its 5th season, Adult Swim released several promos featuring a live-action Rick and Morty, with the characters played by Christopher Lloyd and Jaeden Martell, respectively. The actors became instantly recognizable, donning the same outfits as the animated characters and talking like them. Lloyd’s casting was particularly notable, helping to bring the show full circle.
These promos, though bizarre, were influential in engaging audiences and piquing curiosity in the fifth season. As fan service, the promos referenced gags and bits from the show, including Pickle Rick and Rick’s portal gun. The actors interact with each other in character, being just as crass in 10 seconds as they are in a typical season.
Rick and Morty could have ostensibly traveled between versions of their world, accidentally entering a live-action universe. Much can be explained through the freedom of science fiction and animation.
The live-action interpretation wasn’t just a gimmick either and was even reasonably realistic given the extent and logic of the show's universe. Using the portal gun, Rick and Morty could have ostensibly traveled between versions of their world, accidentally entering a live-action universe. Much can be explained through the freedom of science fiction and animation. However, these promos didn’t specifically advance Rick and Morty’s plot.
Christopher Lloyd, As Rick Sanchez, Casting Brought Rick And Morty Full Circle
Lloyd's 1985 Character Was The Basis For Rick
Featuring similar characters and plots, the concept of Rick and Morty is famously a parody of Robert Zemeckis’ Back to the Future. In the 1985 movie, Marty McFly must visit the past to repair the future, using the time travel machine of his scientist friend, Doc Brown. This is similar to the partnership between Rick and Morty, using sci-fi elements as the basis of their adventures. Though Rick and Morty references Back to the Future, it doesn’t tend to make outright connections to it, but the inspiration is evident to audiences of both franchises.
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In the Back to the Future film trilogy, Doc Brown is played by Christopher Lloyd. Brown is characterized by his raspy voice and electric white hair, similar to the animated version of Rick. Though the cartoon version of this scientist is typically voiced by Justin Roiland and Ian Cardoni, he is played by Christopher Lloyd in the live version. This connection made these live-action promos a full-circle moment for the show, as Lloyd, Rick’s original inspiration, finally played the character himself.
The CG Elements Run The Risk Of Looking Too Uncanny
Though the promos were a fun new look at the characters, a full-version live-action take on the franchise would be hard to manage. Part of the appeal of Rick And Morty is that it relies on cartoon logic to pull off the exciting sci-fi elements. This means animating aliens, enemies, allies, and everything in between, which gives the show a lot of creative freedom in plot and character design.
Rick and Morty is available to stream on Hulu and Max.
While these promos work as short inserts, they only feature Rick and Morty, who are human characters. Any attempt to animate a non-human, like a Gazorpian, Bird Person, or Mr. Meeseeks, risks looking unnatural and strange from the CGI. While interpreting these characters as living creatures in the real world might be a fun animation challenge, it would remove the fun and freedom that the animated art form provides.
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If you love the sci-fi adventures between Rick and Morty on Adult Swim, you're going to be glued to this mix of animated and live-action shows!
Just because a live-action special would be difficult to achieve doesn’t mean it hasn't been attempted. Rick and Morty has been interpreted in lots of mediums over its 11-year run. Along with the promos, AI and CG art have interpreted Rick and Morty as humans. A 2024 spin-off series even sees the animated characters in a different artistic style in Rick and Morty: The Anime. Rick and Morty never ceases to experiment within their cartoon world, testing the logic and pushing the boundaries of animation.
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Rick and Morty
Rick and Morty is an adventure/Sci-Fi animated series that follows the intergalactic, inter-dimensional adventures of super-genius Rick Sanchez and his less-than-average grandson Morty Smith. Rick's daughter, Beth, his granddaughter, Summer, and his hated stepson, Jerry, also take center stage more often than not. Hailing from creators Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon, the series blends comedy with science fiction as a way of exploring a wide variety of themes aimed at an adult audience.
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- Release Date
- December 2, 2013
- Writers
- Dan Harmon , Justin Roiland , Tom Kauffman , Eric Acosta
