Rick and Morty is ready to return for more interdimensional adventures. Only, the first images from season nine reveal the animated series is making some big changes. Nah, we’re kidding. When the iconic duo returns in May they’ll obviously be just as absurd, drunk, suspicious, violent, and angry as ever.
Warner Bros. Discovery and Adult Swim announced Rick and Morty‘s ninth season will debut on Sunday, May 24 at 11:00pm ET. The celebrated the release date with the first eight images from the next batch of episode. As someone who has been covering this show for many years, I know it’s pointless trying to guess what they mean. Is that ominous shot of an RV a Stranger Things parody? Maybe?! But probably not! There’s no way to know. Not when the most tantalizing sequence from a trailer can turn out to be a total fake-out. And yet, I’m pretty sure we can all guess what an intoxicated Rick walking through a town of gnome-like creatures will entail: chaos.
In usual show tradition, the season synopsis doesn’t offer much in the way of actual info. It’s just a good time. From Adult Swim:
Rick and Morty is back, baby! Season Nine is all certified bangers. No AI slop! Just Grade A organic slop, made by real humans with real human traits like back hair and cysts. Please watch, or we’ll have neglected our families for nothing.
In a statement, Adult Swim president Michael Ouweleen promised a season that will prove the show is still among TV’s best. “I know it’s my job to say that this show just keeps topping itself, but it also has the benefit of being true. It’s kind of scary what this show unit is doing season over season—just pouring an absurd amount of talent and brilliance into these episodes. From the first frame, you’re going to see great high‑concept insanity with some of the best character writing ever done. Again, it’s my job to say that, but it’s also true.”
We’ll have to see this season ourselves to know if he’s right. But we know one thing will be true: Rick and Morty will be just as ridiculous as ever when it returns.