Evil Morty’s Shocking Rick And Morty Season 9 Return And His Potential Future Addressed By Showrunner & Stars

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Be warned, this article contains spoilers for the first episode of Rick and Morty season 9, titled “There’s Something About Morty”! The new season of Rick and Morty began with the surprising return of Evil Morty, and the show’s creators are now discussing his comeback and what it means for the future of the series.

Okay, so the new season kicked off with an insane episode, “There’s Something About Morty.” Basically, Morty finds out Rick’s still secretly talking to Evil Rick, and he’s being forced to go on adventures with him because Evil Rick threatens to erase Morty’s whole family from every possible reality with this crazy weapon called The Omega Device. Morty, feeling a mix of jealousy and worry, decides to tag along on their latest mission, which throws them up against this unbelievably powerful, Galactus-level god-like being – a total hive mind! It was a wild ride, honestly.

Before the new season begins, ScreenRant spoke with Rick and Morty’s Scott Marder, Harry Belden, and Spencer Grammer about what to expect. When asked about the possible return of Evil Morty and the season’s main themes, the showrunner explained their aim is still to “give every fan a little bit of everything” they enjoy. They also mentioned the premiere episode was something co-creator Justin Harmon was particularly enthusiastic about.

Marder explained the creators were looking for a character—a sort of instigator—to challenge Rick. Executive producer Albro Lundy suggested Evil Morty was ideally suited for that role.

Scott Marder explained that Rick is in a uniquely powerful position, with very few people able to challenge him. This realization during the premiere episode helped the writers map out the direction of the entire season.

Okay, so Belden basically confirmed what we all suspected – Rick’s hanging out with Evil Morty because he’s being blackmailed! He made it super clear Rick wouldn’t be doing this willingly. But it’s not all bad for Rick, apparently. Belden said Rick actually enjoys having someone – Evil Morty, of all people – to really geek out with about science and share his crazy theories. He said he can’t do that with anyone else, not even other Ricks! It’s kinda sweet, honestly, even if it’s a super messed up situation.

The actor explained the relationship between Rick and Evil Morty as being unique, noting that Rick actually has a lot of respect for his villainous grandson, and vice versa. The writer, Justin Belden, was excited about this dynamic, calling it “really cool” and something they briefly explored in season 7. He’s eager to bring it back in season 9 and would love to show more of their history through flashbacks.

In the upcoming ninth season of Rick and Morty, Rick manages to outsmart Evil Morty, leading him to move the Smith family and their house into a secure bunker to get ready for a major battle. Dan Harmon, who voices Rick, shared that he’d like to have seen more scenes with Evil Morty, believing his character, and Summer, would have a surprisingly good connection.

Summer is frustrated by Evil Morty’s ongoing presence and meddling, but she really liked how the season 9 premiere introduced a host of villainous characters – she described it as opening up “an Arkham Asylum of bad guys.” She particularly enjoyed the Fourth Dimensional Beings, even naming them as one of her favorite parts of the show. She also said the episode was incredibly challenging to make, calling it “one of the craziest ones to record.” Because of the multiple realities involved, they had to re-record it many times to ensure everything made sense and flowed well.

It’s satisfying to see characters return and storylines come full circle. It really highlights Rick’s intelligence and the fact that he’s always several steps ahead, which is a big part of why I love the character. He consistently outsmarts everyone, even Evil Morty! I’d love to see a story where Evil Morty is slowly escaping from the Time Prison, maybe something like ‘The Shawshank Redemption,’ focused on his struggle for freedom. The actor does an amazing job portraying Evil Morty – the contrast between Rick and Evil Morty is really striking, and it’s fascinating to see an actor essentially play against themselves. It was a really brilliant performance, and it worked so well.

Belden shared how much he enjoyed voicing Evil Morty, calling it a refreshing change from playing the original, more unpredictable version of the character. When questioned about whether Evil Morty’s story was finished or if he might reappear in future episodes of Rick and Morty, Marder revealed that production is well underway, currently reaching season 12. He hinted that he and the writers are far ahead of the show’s release schedule and that many exciting things are planned for the future.

Fans were surprised to see Evil Morty return in Rick and Morty season 9, as he was absent throughout season 8. He last appeared in season 7’s “Unmortricken,” where his history of controlling his own Rick and his life outside the main multiverse were revealed. After reluctantly joining forces with Rick and Morty to find Rick Prime, he helped defeat him, preventing further damage to the multiverse with the Omega Device. Evil Morty then took the device back to his universe, seeking to be left in peace.

As a fan, I always found Evil Morty’s choice to basically force Rick into traveling with him really interesting. It felt like a huge hint about his character development. The whole dynamic between Rick and Morty has always been about them needing each other – Rick slowly admitting he cares about Morty, and Morty finding some power in their crazy adventures. Seeing Evil Morty keep a Rick around, even by manipulating him, totally fits that idea of a twisted kind of co-dependency. It’s like he needs a Rick, even if he’d never admit it, and that felt like a brilliant continuation of the show’s themes.

Similar to what Kelsey Grammer hinted at, Evil Morty’s return could open up exciting new possibilities for Rick and Morty, introducing a wealth of new characters and backstory. We could learn more about the mysterious Fourth Dimensional Beings, the history of the Time Prison, and the inmates within, and Evil Morty’s escape could unleash a whole host of new dangers across the multiverse.

New episodes of Rick and Morty season 9 air Sundays at 11 p.m. EST on Adult Swim.

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2026-05-25 20:20