Daniel Mercer
Rick and Morty is set to launch its first spinoff that diverges from the familiar format of the main series, including its short-lived anime adaptation. The new show, titled President Curtis, will center around the character of President Andre Curtis, voiced by Keith David. This highly anticipated series premieres on Adult Swim on July 26, right after the season nine finale of Rick and Morty. In a recent interview, co-creators Dan Harmon and James Siciliano shared insights into why they chose President Curtis as the focal point for this new adventure and teased how his character will evolve compared to previous appearances.
In an interview with Deadline, Harmon emphasized that Curtis, as the leader of the free world, presents a unique opportunity for storytelling. He noted that Curtis possesses his own set of mysteries to explore, making him ideal for a self-contained narrative that doesn’t overlap redundantly with the main series.
The concept for President Curtis has been developing since season five in 2021, particularly highlighted during his significant role in the episode “Rick and Morty’s Thanksploitation Spectacular.” In this episode, viewers witnessed the escalating feud between Rick and Curtis, culminating in a humorous twist where both characters transformed into turkeys.
“That’s where the discussion began—recognizing the depth that Keith David brings to the character and his capability to maintain that level of tension with Rick,” Siciliano reflected. “We also envisioned a rich world to explore—complete with Spider FDR, the hidden French assassin in the Statue of Liberty, and elements reminiscent of National Treasure and X-Files. This was the foundational fabric for the show.”
While the series will feature the same President Curtis from Rick and Morty, there will be notable differences in his portrayal.
“One major shift we made in developing our version of the character is that in Rick and Morty, he was driven by a need for approval,” Siciliano explained. “For this new show, we aimed to present a character who doesn’t roll his eyes at his responsibilities; instead, he embraces his duty to protect the people.”
Harmon added, “We deliberated on what changes were necessary for this character. If presented with an opportunity to improve his popularity through lies or deceit, he would refuse. His motivation for being president stems from a sense of obligation—knowing that if he doesn’t step up, a worse leader could take his place. He’s a soldier and a vampire slayer, a solitary figure who reluctantly accepted the responsibility of serving millions.”
President Curtis also features performances by Jim Rash and Stephanie Beatriz. Mark your calendars for its debut on July 26 on Adult Swim.
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