As Rick and Morty enters into its eighth season on Adult Swim, Harry Belden and Ian Cardoni, who are the new voice actors behind the two iconic characters, spoke with Coming Soon about their experiences so far as Morty and Rick, what viewers can expect from the newest episodes, and if there are plans to create a live-action Rick and Morty movie could ever work.
Belden, who plays Morty, and Cardoni, who plays Rick, have been acting as the main stars since the seventh season. Although the stakes were initially high for these roles, they revealed that the new season gives them more flexibility to hone in on their roles.
“People don’t like change. Change is hard,” Belden said. “Now, at the end of the day, Ian and I are so focused on the work that we really just don’t have time or energy to worry about what other people are thinking.”
Cardoni added that having more time to record this season gave them a better shot at showing their take on the characters.
“There’s the luxury of having more time to work on this season than we had for Season 7. What ends up in the final cuts is the result of a lot of people, we’re just one part of a big team.”
The duo teased some upcoming moments in Season 8, including a new holiday-themed episode and expanded screen time for Jerry.
“There’s a lot of Jerry in this season,” Belden revealed. “No matter what you’re a fan of with Rick and Morty, Season 8 is probably going to hit one of your boxes.”
Cardoni was particularly excited about the show’s continued ability to surprise, not just fans, but the actors themselves.
“We’ve been surprised picking up scripts before. I remember reading the ‘Unmortricken’ script and thinking, ‘Oh my god, this is where we’re going with that storyline.’ I wouldn’t put anything past this team.”
Belden recalled one of his favorite scenes from the season which was the Matrix-style scene that reveals Morty’s simulated trauma.
“I remember just laughing so hard. My fiancé came in and was like, ‘What is going on?’ and I’m like, ‘I’m just reading this script, it’s so funny.’”
Cardoni also jumped into the conversation, praising Belden’s delivery as Morty.
“You have an amazing stammer right as that happens. That one clip? You’re good. It gives the fans what they’re looking for.”
They also spoke on how impossible it would be to create a Rick and Morty live-action film, based on its structure on the small screen.
“I think it’d be really hard,” Belden stated. “If it did happen, it’d be more of a quick cut in an animated movie where they go live-action for a minute and then go back.”
Cardoni echoed that while anything is possible, the animated format gives the show its freedom to be replicated innovatively.
“Being in the animated space gives us all the options to explore the multiverse. That’s what has made us iconic. The more art, the better. But don’t mess with the good thing we’ve got.”
Since joining Rick and Morty, the actors have subconsciously reenacted their characters daily.
“The whole rest of the day, my internal dialogue is in the voice of Morty,” Belden said. “There was my life before this and now there’s my life after this.”
Cardoni admitted, “My Rick attitude comes out a bit when I’m stuck in traffic. If you cut me off, you’re going to get a voice line, and it’s not going to be pretty.”
Despite the show’s popularity, they both enjoy the anonymity of voicing animated characters.
“We get to hide behind the animated versions of the characters,” said Cardoni.
With Rick and Morty already renewed through Season 12, the series shows no signs of slowing down. The two personally believe that the show will make a mark, similar to The Simpsons.
“As long as the writing is fresh and the characters are alive, we’ve got limitless storytelling possibilities,” Cardoni said. “Rick and Morty could go on forever and still be just as popular.”
Belden agreed. “Amen, Ian. I couldn’t agree more.”
