The seventh season of the American adult animated television series Rick and Morty premiered on October 15, 2023, and will consist of ten episodes.
The season was ordered before the fourth season of the show finished airing, in May 2020. It is the first season not to feature Justin Roiland providing any voice work, following his dismissal from the franchise in January 2023, though he is still credited as co-creator and executive producer. Ian Cardoni and Harry Belden were hired to replace him.
Cast and characters
Main
Chris Parnell as Jerry Smith, Morty and Summer's father and Rick's son-in-law. Spencer Grammer as Summer Smith, Morty's older sister and Rick's granddaughter. Sarah Chalke as Beth Smith and Space Beth, Morty and Summer's mothers, Jerry's wives, and Rick's daughter, respectively a horse surgeon and a space-faring adventurer, one of whom is a clone of the other. Ian Cardoni as Rick Sanchez, one of the show's two lead characters and Morty's grandfather. Rick is often shown as drunk while seeking to track down Rick Prime, a version of himself from a parallel universe who killed his wife and daughter. Harry Belden as Morty Smith, one of the show's two lead characters and Rick's grandson. Morty is often shown as nervous and unsure of himself, often doubtful about Rick's extravagant adventures.
Guest
Jon Allen as Wayne "Mr. Poopybutthole" ("PB"), a long-time friend of the Smith family. Dan Harmon as Birdperson, one of Rick's oldest friends. Scott Chernoff as Gearhead, one of Rick's oldest friends. Beck Bennett as The Sheriff Hugh Jackman as Himself, Gene's cousin-in-law. Tom Kenny as: Gene Gilligan, the Smith family's neighbor. Kenny is promoted to the main cast with "The Jerrick Trap", after having had a recurring role as Gene since the third season, and other characters since the first season. Squanch "Squanchy", one of Rick's oldest friends. Mr. Stabby, a sword-limbed talk show host who accidentally kills his audience when trying to take questions from them. Lauren Tom as: Amy, Mr. Poopybutthole's ex-wife and Gul'Karna's girlfriend; Tom's casting is in reference to her role as Amy Wong in Futurama. Birddaughter, Birdperson's daughter with Tammy Gueterman. Keith David as Andre Curtis, the President of the United States Susan Sarandon as Dr. Helen Wong, the Smith family's therapist. Christina Hendricks as Unity, an alien collective hive mind.
Episodes
The following titles for the season's episodes are "Wet Kuat Amortican Summer", "Rise of the Numbericons: The Movie", "Mort: Ragnarick", and "Fear No Mort".
Production
Development
The season is a part of a long-term deal between show creators Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon and Adult Swim, confirming 70 new episodes would be released over an unspecified amount of seasons. Thirty of those episodes were aired as part of season four, season five and season six, leaving forty episodes remaining.
Casting
After charges of felony domestic abuse, which were subsequently dropped due to a lack of evidence, Justin Roiland was removed from the show following the sixth season. Adult Swim hired two new voice "sound alike" talent for the show's titular characters, announced as unknown actors Ian Cardoni and Harry Belden on the season premiere. Cardoni was cast first due to his Rick impression, which Marder mentioned was difficult to cast as “everyone sounded like Macho Man Randy Savage or like a cousin of his. No one sounded exactly like Rick.” Belden was cast much later “after exhausting every possible resource”.
Release
The seventh season premiered on October 15, 2023. The episode titles for season 7 were released through social media on August 31, 2023.
Reception
On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, season 7 has a 73% score based on 11 reviews.