Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.
Morty from Rick and Morty opening the door to find Macho Man Randy Savage.

Rick & Morty: Justin Roiland Replacement Auditioners Sounded Like Macho Man

Rick and Morty show leads Scott Marder and Dan Harmon have revealed that finding a replacement for Justin Roiland as Rick was a lot tougher than they expected, as in their search for cream of the crop they ended up with an awful lot of Macho Man Randy Savage soundalikes.

Recommended Videos

Speaking to the Hollywood Reporter, Marder and Harmon talked about finding a replacement for Justin Roiland. The search went on for six months, with thousands of voice actors involved. Rick, the show’s hard-drinking scientist, has a very distinctive, gravelly voice. But as Harman pointed out, there’s a balance involved, they have to be “..angry, sad, despondent and all those things.”

Related: Rick and Morty Season 7 Trailer Reveals New Voices for Titular Characters

What they often ended up with were performances that channeled the late Randy Savage, a wrestler known for his larger than life personality and over the top vocal delivery.

“Everyone sounded like Macho Man Randy Savage or like a cousin of his,” Marder explained. And some of those who could nail the performance were unable to pull it off conversationally, which is what the role requires.

Roiland, who co-created the show and voiced both Rick and Morty, was fired due to allegations of abuse.

Rick and Morty Season 7, the first season without Roiland, is currently underway. And if you’re wondering who the pair found to replace him, here’s your answer.


The Escapist is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission.Ā Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
Author
Image of Chris McMullen
Chris McMullen
Chris McMullen is a freelance contributor at The Escapist and has been with the site since 2020. He returned to writing about games following several career changes, with his most recent stint lasting five-plus years. He hopes that, through his writing work, he settles the karmic debt he incurred by persuading his parents to buy a Mega CD. Outside of The Escapist, Chris covers news and more for GameSpew. He's also been published at such sites as VG247, Space, and more. His tastes run to horror, the post-apocalyptic, and beyond, though he'll tackle most things that aren't exclusively sports-based. At Escapist, he's covered such games as Infinite Craft, Lies of P, Starfield, and numerous other major titles.