Adult Swim’s hit animated series Rick and Morty alternates between bizarre, meta-humor driven standalone adventures and complex multiverse-focused storylines that explore family trauma and nihilism. Adult Swim president Michael Ouweleen promises plenty of both when the show returns for its ninth season on May 24.
“I know it’s my job to say that this show just keeps topping itself, but it also has the benefit of being true,” Ouweleen said in a statement. “It’s kind of scary what this show unit is doing season over season — just pouring an absurd amount of talent and brilliance into these episodes. From the first frame, you’re going to see great high‑concept insanity with some of the best character writing ever done.”
Series creator Dan Harmon and showrunner Scott Marder wrote Rick and Morty seasons 8, 9, and 10 all in one go, and Harmon told Polygon that season 9 includes something he’s been wanting to do in television or movies forever and finally figured out how to pull off. That could be pretty much anything, given the big swings Harmon has already taken on Rick and Morty, including transforming everyone into David Cronenberg-inspired monsters, turning Rick into a pickle to examine his aversion to therapy, and revealing the true reason Rick is the smartest man in the universe.
The first-look images showcase a mix of domestic and multiversal antics. Rick (Ian Cardoni) seems to be dealing with some kind of vortex in his garage lab, where he’s also seen wrestling an irate-looking Morty (Harry Belden). Rick will be drunkenly rampaging through a picturesque miniature town populated by gnome-like creatures, but he also takes Morty on a camping trip in an alien forest. The most mysterious inclusion is a shadowed, bundled-up figure walking out of an RV that seems to have skidded out in a snowy forest. It looks like a hook for a spooky episode!
Rick and Morty has already been renewed through season 12. A spinoff focused on Rick’s regular foil, U.S. President Andre Curtis (Keith David), is also in the works.
Season 9 of Rick and Morty premieres at 11 p.m. ET May 24 on Adult Swim and the episode will be available to buy digitally the following day. The full season will be available to stream in the U.S. on Aug. 31.