If you’ve spent any time on the internet over the last few years, you know the Rick and Morty voice cast situation was a total mess. People were panicking. "The show is dead," they said. "Nobody can replace that voice," they screamed into the void of X (formerly Twitter).
But here we are in 2026, and the show is still kicking. Honestly, it’s kinda fascinating how the transition actually went down compared to how everyone thought it would go.
The New Faces: Ian Cardoni and Harry Belden
Let's get the big names out of the way. When Adult Swim officially severed ties with co-creator Justin Roiland in 2023 following some pretty heavy allegations, they had a massive problem. Roiland wasn’t just a producer; he was the voice of both titular characters.
Finding the replacements wasn't a quick "hey, you sound like a drunk scientist" audition. It took six months. Thousands of people tried out. Eventually, they landed on Ian Cardoni for Rick Sanchez and Harry Belden for Morty Smith.
Cardoni is basically a miracle worker. Rick's voice is notoriously hard on the vocal cords—all that gravelly yelling and the random mid-sentence burping. Cardoni somehow managed to nail the "Rickness" without making it feel like a cheap parody. By Season 8, which wrapped up in mid-2025, most fans had stopped even noticing the switch.
Belden’s Morty was a bit more of a talking point. Some fans on Reddit felt his Morty was "too screechy" early on. But honestly? Morty is a nervous 14-year-old kid. Screechy is sorta the brand. By the time we hit the most recent episodes, Belden settled into a rhythm that feels authentic to the character’s growth.
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The Pillars Who Stayed
While the leads changed, the rest of the Smith family remained the bedrock of the show. This is probably why the series didn't just collapse under the weight of the recast.
- Chris Parnell (Jerry Smith): The man is a legend. His portrayal of Jerry as the pathetic yet weirdly resilient father is perfect. Parnell has been there since day one and hasn't missed a beat.
- Sarah Chalke (Beth Smith / Space Beth): Chalke pulls double duty, often arguing with herself as the two versions of Beth. Her ability to switch between "domesticated" Beth and "badass space warrior" Beth is one of the show's underrated strengths.
- Spencer Grammer (Summer Smith): Grammer has talked openly in interviews about how much she enjoys Summer’s evolution from a typical teen to a nihilistic adventurer who is basically "Rick 2.0."
There was a moment during the San Diego Comic-Con 2025 panel where the whole cast sat together, and you could tell the chemistry was actually there. It wasn't just actors reading lines; they've become a cohesive unit.
The Supporting Players and Cameos
The Rick and Morty voice cast is also famous for its deep bench of guest stars. You've got Tom Kenny—yes, the voice of Spongebob—voicing everything from Squanchy to Gene the neighbor.
Then there’s Kari Wahlgren, who voices Jessica and Rick’s late wife, Diane. Her work in the "Unmortricken" episode was haunting, providing the voice for the computer program Rick built to torture himself with Diane's memory.
We also can't forget the heavy hitters who popped up in Season 8:
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- Danny DeVito made a guest appearance as Dr. Dogballs (typical Rick and Morty name).
- Hugh Jackman has basically become a recurring guest at this point, playing a fictionalized version of himself.
- Dan Harmon himself continues to voice Birdperson, though he’s admitted in the past that he finds the recording process a bit draining.
Why the "Soundalike" Strategy Worked
Most shows would have just "Aunt Vivian-ed" it—just changed the voice and hoped nobody noticed. Or they would have used some weird in-universe explanation, like a "voice-fixing ray."
The producers didn't do that. They went for total mimicry.
Showrunner Scott Marder was adamant that the fans shouldn't feel like they were watching a different show. The goal was for the transition to be "indistinguishable." While some die-hard fans still claim they can "feel" the difference in the improvisational timing, the reality is that the ratings stayed high.
The 2026 landscape for adult animation is crowded, but Rick and Morty has managed to survive a scandal that would have buried most other series. It turns out that the writing—the high-concept sci-fi and the weirdly deep emotional arcs—was just as important as the guy behind the microphone.
What’s Next for the Cast?
As we look toward Season 9 and beyond, the cast seems more stable than ever. The "new guys" aren't new anymore. They are just Rick and Morty.
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If you're looking to follow the cast or catch them at events, here are a few things to keep an eye on:
- Check the Credits: Seriously. The show hides famous guest stars in the credits all the time without announcing them beforehand.
- Comic-Con Circuits: Cardoni and Belden are now staples at the major conventions. They’ve finally started doing "in-character" bits during panels, which they were hesitant to do when they first started.
- Social Media: While the official Rick and Morty accounts are the best source for news, following the individual actors like Spencer Grammer or Sarah Chalke often gives you "behind-the-booth" glimpses that you won't see elsewhere.
The era of uncertainty is over. The Smith family is still traveling the multiverse, and whether you love the new voices or still miss the old ones, the show's identity is firmly intact.
To see the latest updates on production and potential Season 9 release dates, you should keep an eye on the official Adult Swim press releases or the show's social media feeds, as they've been dropping "sneak peeks" earlier than usual this cycle.
Next Steps for You: - Look up the "Unmortricken" episode credits to see how many different "Ricks" Ian Cardoni had to voice in a single 22-minute window.
- Compare a Season 1 episode with a Season 8 episode back-to-back; you’ll realize the voices changed way more than you think, even before the recast.