Although a fourth season of Rick and Morty seemed anything but certain, Adult Swim finally announced last month that it had ordered a staggering 70 new episodes of the animated series, much to the relief of fans and creators. So, what took so long?
Speaking with GQ before the renewal, co-creator Justin Roiland explained that his partner Dan Harmon didn’t want to “have to take 12 other jobs while we’re working on Season 4.” Now that the two can give Rick and Morty their undivided attention, it’s full steam ahead for the next run of episodes.
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The duo wanted to secure Rick and Morty‘s future before getting fans’ hopes up. In a follow-up conversation following the Adult Swim announcement, Harmon told the magazine, “I can finally actually breathe and be as excited as I’ve wanted to be.”
Audiences were already up in arms over the two-year delay between seasons 2 and 3, but nothing compared to the reaction when it appeared that Rick and Morty might end after 31 episodes.
The renewal is a shrewd move that ties Harmon and Roiland to Rick and Morty for a multi-season deal. Also, with clear schedules after wrapping up all their other various projects, the duo can now get to work on more adult adventures in the Multiverse.