New Rick and Morty Series Promises The X-Files Meets Community

Mark your calendars: the ninth season of Rick and Morty concludes on Adult Swim this July 26. Following the finale, viewers can catch the exclusive premiere of the new spinoff series, President Curtis. This exciting development was unveiled during a panel at the Annecy Festival, where executive producers Dan Harmon and James Siciliano offered a glimpse into the show’s creative vision and the complex hurdles awaiting the Commander-in-Chief.

<p>According to Siciliano, the foundation for this spinoff was laid in the fifth-season episode "Rick &amp; Morty's Thanksploitation Spectacular." That installment saw Rick transform into a turkey to secure a presidential pardon from President Andre Curtis—portrayed by Keith David—only to find himself locked in a fierce power struggle with a leader who harbors a cache of classified, government-sanctioned secrets.</p>

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<p>"In the writers' room, we envisioned Curtis as the ultimate fantasy president," noted Harmon. "Think of him as an eighth-grader aiming to be Batman; he’s essentially Bruce Wayne, just significantly less sharp."</p>

<p>Harmon likened the series to a collision between <em>The X-Files</em> and <em>Community</em>, focusing on Curtis and his cabinet as they juggle administrative duties alongside outlandish sci-fi threats. Teasers include a secret Bermuda Triangle detention center for extraterrestrials and vampires, as well as a ritualistic obligation at Camp David to keep a malevolent, ancient witch imprisoned.</p>

<p>"Rick is essentially a god, which makes it difficult to raise the stakes since he can resolve almost anything," Siciliano added. "While <em>President Curtis</em> remains grounded in high-concept sci-fi and chaotic action, it allows us to explore more grounded, human-scale conflicts."</p>

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Source: Polygon