David Bridges
SPOILER ALERT: This article contains spoilers from the highly anticipated episode of “Rick and Morty” Season 8, Episode 7, titled “Ricker Than Fiction,” which premiered on Sunday, July 6 on Grownup Swim.
In a surprising twist, DC Studios CEO James Gunn and renowned filmmaker Zack Snyder made unexpected guest appearances on this week’s episode of “Rick and Morty.” They lent their voices to exaggerated versions of themselves, adding a unique layer of celebrity charm to the episode.
“They were incredibly good-natured,” remarked Scott Marder, the executive producer of “Rick and Morty.” “Both of these talented individuals suggested that this is the animated series they enjoy during their downtime. They were genuinely excited to participate in this universe, displaying no hesitation or reluctance. In fact, they enjoyed every aspect we presented to them. There were likely even more playful jabs and humorous elements we could have included. All they did was laugh off the jokes we made.”
Specifically, Gunn was portrayed as a villain in Season 8, Episode 7, “Ricker Than Fiction.” The episode, crafted by Rob Schrab, begins with Rick and Morty expressing dissatisfaction with the creative direction of their beloved film series, “Most Velocitree.” In their quest for cinematic justice, they travel to the Warner Bros. studio lot to confront Gunn, the director and producer associated with “Most Velocitree.” When their expectations are not met, Rick and Morty resort to using Rick’s invention, the “Film-lizer,” to take matters into their own hands and rewrite the franchise’s narrative.
During a humorous encounter in the Warner Bros. cafeteria, Gunn unexpectedly runs into a buff Snyder. Amidst some playful banter about “Superman,” Snyder quips, “I just saw your new cut of ‘Superman,’ and here’s a word of advice: he’s the ‘Man of Steel,’ not the ‘Man of Dialogue.’ Make sure to include more shots of him throwing punches!” Snyder then elaborates on Rick Sanchez, stating, “That’s the guy who sealed Christopher Nolan in the giant bookcase to punish him for ‘Interstellar.’ He doesn’t represent true fans; he’s just the smartest man in the universe. Don’t worry about it; he can’t do what we do. Probably.”
Ultimately, Rick and Morty, with an assist from Jerry, manage to create a far more satisfying ending. They become embroiled in the Film-lizer, transforming into new villains for “Most Velocitree.” As they meet their demise within the film, Gunn emotionally exclaims, “They did it! What an ending! They outdid the Gunn!”
After their cinematic adventure, Rick and Morty find their way back into the real world. However, Gunn cunningly steals the hard drive of the Film-lizer and takes it to Warner Bros. He informs “Mr. Brothers,” “They cracked the code! This won’t just fill seats and sell popcorn; it has the potential to inspire hope! It could save Hollywood and revolutionize everything.” The Warner Bros. executives are impressed and instruct his henchman, “Give this man a sundae!” Ironically, Gunn meets his demise at the hands of a gun named “Sundae.”
“I’m thrilled for the fans to experience this one,” Marder commented. “I sense they are always eager for classic ‘Rick and Morty’ episodes, those that feel like a fun, standalone adventure. This particular episode seems to fulfill that requirement in a significant way while also delivering delightful surprises.”
The concept of the Film-lizer had been circulating among the writers for some time, as Marder explained. Initially, it was envisioned as the “Book-alizer,” focusing on Jerry writing a novel. Eventually, the idea evolved into movies. “Most Velocitree” was conceived as a playful nod to the “Transformers” and “Fast and Furious” franchises.
“We thought, if we’re going to create a movie and take a jab at Hollywood, we have to include our bosses in the mix,” he emphasized. “Thus, we began considering Warner Bros. Who would be an ideal face to serve as the villain in this scenario? James Gunn emerged as the perfect candidate. We were all quite certain that when Schrab reached out to Gunn, he would be neck-deep in ‘Superman’ preparations. Remarkably, he responded almost immediately with enthusiasm, and I believe he escalated it through the Warner Bros. chain that same day. Our production team was astonished by how quickly Gunn, Zaslav, and others were already aware of this episode.”
According to Marder, Gunn even made it a point to stop by the “Rick and Morty” recording studio to record his lines the morning after wrapping principal photography on “Superman.”
“I believe Gunn ensured that everything was coordinated to prevent any conflicts. It seemed he received the green light quite rapidly,” Marder shared. “Both he and Snyder came in as great sports. As a proud nerd myself, I idolize both of these guys. They possess a level of creative freedom that very few individuals in Hollywood have, allowing them to take bold risks.”
Series co-creator Dan Harmon also expressed enthusiasm about the prospect of both Gunn and Snyder contributing to the episode. He eagerly participated in writing the “Superman” dialogue between them. “When he learned that they were on board and coming in, he cracked his knuckles, eager to ensure that the episode lived up to their standards and was worthy of their contributions,” Marder noted.
Gunn and Snyder recorded their lines in succession and even took a photo together that quickly went viral. Fortunately for the show, which aimed to keep their cameos under wraps, no one discovered that they had crossed paths due to “Rick and Morty.”
“I appreciate that we managed to keep it under wraps until now,” Marder mentioned. “We operate with a level of confidentiality akin to Fort Knox; we scrutinize everything that goes public and get approval since the fans analyze every detail with a magnifying glass.”
The plot of “Ricker Than Fiction” was also meta, delving into the ongoing discussions among fans about franchises, sequels, and long-running intellectual properties like both “Superman” and “Rick and Morty.”
“Without a doubt, it’s a very high-class situation to have such a passionate audience,” Marder explained. “The episode naturally embodied that essence. One often hears the sentiment that everyone could do it better and how simple it appears. Rick and Morty believe they can craft a superior film. They are handed the keys to the kingdom, yet it’s not as straightforward as it seems. Writing is incredibly challenging. It’s much easier to sit on your couch and critique something than to engage in the hard work of creating it yourself. All of these themes were woven into the episode in an entertaining, fast-paced manner without coming off as overly preachy.”
Gunn’s character is shot at the finale of the episode, but there’s always the possibility for his return now that he’s part of the “Rick and Morty” lore. As for Snyder, he is such an avid fan that he almost immediately expressed interest in contributing more to the series.
“I direct all the voice performances, so I guided both of these incredible talents,” Marder shared. “After Snyder wrapped, he returned like a true fan, saying, ‘I’ll do anything for the show. Just give me a tag or a small role.’ It was refreshing to hear such enthusiasm from him.”
“So, how about a ‘Snyder cut’ of ‘Ricker Than Fiction’?”
“That would be fantastic,” Marder replied. “I do love a good Snyder cut!”
Clara Hastings
