With its sharp wit and creativity, it’s no surprise that Rick and Morty has a lot of fan-favorite characters, and now one of them is finally getting a true spin-off on Adult Swim. The idea of giving Andre Curtis (Keith David) his own series is a great idea, as his episodes rank as some of the best in the series. What few things we know about President Curtis sound promising, from the basic premise to the main cast, and the use of political satire has been a surprising strength in the main series so far. The amount of possibilities for the story appears infinite, and it might be a fun and creative way to take a declining series and make something fresh and unique.
President Curtis Has Long Been a Fan Favorite Character in ‘Rick and Morty’
Over twelve years and eight seasons, Rick and Morty has had plenty of popular side characters, and one of the funniest was the President, who made his debut in “Get Schwifty” during the second season. Thanks to a longtime voice actor like Keith David, he became instantly memorable, and one could not help get the feeling that he served as a reference to Barack Obama, who was President at the time. Although the series rarely brings back supporting characters, there was clearly more that the show could do with him, and it was not very long before we saw him again.
In Season 3, Rick and Morty decided to make the President a recurring character, now with a clear personality and name. As his rivalry with the Smith family grows, he is shown to be nearly as juvenile and egotistical as Rick (Ian Cardoni) can be. He also remains one of the few people able to rival Rick in terms of abilities, with the government having a comical amount of sci-fi tech at their disposal. In terms of humor, his storylines account for some of the best in a great series, with special mention going to the Thanksgiving special and Season 6 finale. The fact that many of these episodes occur in the weaker later seasons makes them all the more impressive, and it’s surprising that such a spin-off idea took so long to manifest.
What Do We Know About the ‘President Curtis’ Spin-off?
When it was announced at San Diego Comic Con last weekend, the reveal of a President Curtis series took nearly everyone by surprise. So far, we do not have a release date or episode count, but what we do have speaks volumes. Behind the scenes, Rick and Morty co-creator Dan Harmon will serve as one of the showrunners, with executive producer James Siciliano as the other. The official plot summary from Adult Swim says the show will feature “the Commander-in-Chief and his eccentric staff as they tackle the kind of crises that Rick Sanchez could never be bothered with — from interdimensional diplomacy to paranormal investigations and unexplained phenomena.”
The only other thing we know so far is the main cast, but what we have feels encouraging. Aside from Keith David himself, we have Jim Rash, a friend of Harmon from his old Community days. Rash has actually had a small role in Rick and Morty in season 2 as Glaxo Slimslam, the marriage counselor who tries to help the Smith family, and has been in a few adult animated cartoons over the years. The other cast member is Stephanie Beatriz, most known for starring in Brooklyn Nine-Nine as Rosa Diaz. From BoJack Horseman to Hazbin Hotel, she remains no stranger to adult animation, and there is every reason to think she’ll thrive in this role. We don’t yet know the characters these two are playing or who else could make an appearance, but given how many guest stars Rick and Morty has earned over the years, it’s safe to say many actors would be eager to sign on, and that talent is not far away.
Related
‘Rick and Morty’s Season 8 Finale Just Changed the Show (and Rick) Forever
“I took my wife out of my head! I’m going through a lot!”
President Curtis Will Give ‘Rick and Morty’ a Breath of Fresh Air
It’s not exactly a secret to anyone that Rick and Morty has struggled in recent years, and there are plenty of ways the show could regain its lost momentum. Part of this can be through exploring new ideas or returning to old ones, but a true spin-off is something the show has never considered until now. Yes, we’ve had an anime and short films about the Vindicators after their adventures with Morty (Harry Belden) in season 3, but this is really the first separate series we’ve gotten as part of that universe. Not only could it bring in a new kind of audience, but it might also maintain the old one in an era where anticipation feels like it has waned over time.
As for where the show could decide to go, the possibilities for President Curtis remain as endless as the original show. Throughout his episodes in the main series, there is plenty of world building surrounding the many alien threats the US has faced, and the hidden ways the government can counter it. Attempts at political humor in those storylines, like poking fun at previous presidents, have been comedic gold in a series beloved for its witty dialogue, and America has plenty of history for them to play with and laugh at. Of course, there is never a simple formula for success, and the spin-off could end up dead on arrival like any unfunny comedy, but the ingredients are present for a great show if the idea is executed properly.
President Curtis does not yet have a premiere date, but will air on Adult Swim in the U.S.