One of the whackiest, yet most loved Adult Swim creations, Rick and Morty, did not have the best season 5. With the sudden and tragic loss of their line producer J. Michael Mendel, the team was understandably a bit out of sorts. Despite fan backlash, the last season gave us some mind-bending, high-concept, and fun episodes, in quintessential Rick and Morty style. Now, with season 6 all set to premiere, co-creator Justin Roiland opened up a little about the process and his work relationship with Dan Harmon.

Is Dan Harmon Rick in real life?

In a previous interview with GQ, Justin Roiland, co-creator of Rick and Morty, had compared Dan Harmon with the genius, yet eccentric Rick. “There’s a lot of Dan in Rick,” said Roiland, about the two “God-defying narcissists.” Justin even added that he’s “accidentally started calling Dan ‘Rick.’ While he agrees that “There’s definitely a world of difference between them (Rick and Dan). But Dan does—maybe subconsciously, maybe purposefully—tap into some of the darkness he’s got in him.”

In a recent interview with IGN, when asked about his working relationship with co-creator Dan Harmon, Roiland expressed, “It’s good.” He did, however, cite the differences in their work philosophies. “I don’t like to work“, said Roiland. On the other hand, “His (Harmon’s) philosophy is perfection,” according to Justin. Did Justin Roiland just compare himself to Morty? We might never know.

Justin Roiland on Rick and Morty season 6

What started as a quirky parody/homage to Back to the Future, Rick and Morty is now its own beast. Yet, co-creator Roiland fondly reminisces the first two seasons of the show and the “silliness and fun that was happening in the creative process.” He also admitted that later seasons didn’t stray wild and were slightly more formal. 

Talking about season 6, Roiland is absolutely thrilled. It will pick up right where they left it off in the finale, but “it’s a bit more canonical.” He even promises a payoff for the avid supporters of the show.

Justin Roiland’s optimism for the latest season sure is infectious and we cannot wait for season 6 to air. It will “premiere globally and across the multiverse” on September 4, 2022. Till then, why don’t you re-watch the previous seasons on Netflix and let us know your predictions for season 6?