The American channel Adult Swim announced yesterday, on social networks, to have ended its collaboration with Justin Roiland, the co-creator of the animated series “Rick & Morty”, while the latter is the subject of a complaint for violence servants. Charges firmly refuted by the voice of his lawyer.
A clash of thunder. It was on social networks that the American channel Adult Swim announced, on Tuesday January 24, that it had separated from Justin Roiland, the co-creator of the animated series “Rick & Morty”, a few days after a complaint for domestic violence against him has been made public.
— Rick and Morty (@RickandMorty) January 24, 2023
Justin Roiland faces two counts, one for domestic assault with bodily harm, the other for false imprisonment by threat, violence, fraud and/or deception. The facts date back to January 2020, after an anonymous woman with whom he had a relationship requested the opening of legal proceedings against him. He was charged in May 2020, then arrested and released in August of the same year in exchange for a $50,000 bond.
Justin Roiland has pleaded not guilty to both counts, says the American site The Hollywood Reporter, and his lawyer T. Edward Welbourn judged the media treatment of the case as being regrettable, his client having nothing to reproach himself according to him. “To be absolutely clear, not only is Justin innocent, but we are confident that this case will be closed once the prosecutor’s office has conducted a detailed analysis of the evidence,” he said in a statement. . A dozen hearings have been held for two years, and Justin Roiland must appear for a new summons on April 27, during which the trial date should be set.
What future for the series “Rick & Morty”?
Justin Roiland is not only the co-creator of the series, but he is also the one who dubs the voices of the two main characters (and many secondary characters). According to The Hollywood Reporter, the future of “Rick & Morty” remains assured on the Adult Swim channel, which extended the series in 2018 at least until season 10. It is Dan Harmon (also targeted by complaints of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior in the past) who will serve as full-time showrunner. And new interpreters will be found to ensure dubbing.
For Justin Roiland, the problems should not stop there, since the decision of Adult Swim should push the studio 20th Television Animation – for which he created the animated series “Solar Opposites” (in France on Disney +) and more recently “Koala Man” – to distance himself from him in the coming days. And potentially put an end to their collaboration.
