Adult Swim Festival recently took place in Philadelphia, the 2022 edition of the event once again combining live music and animated showcases for an audience of excited fans.
As usual for the festival, several of Adult Swim's most popular series held panels where they answered fan questions and talked about their creative process. Furthermore, these series made several massive announcements and revealed some huge info in regard to future Adult Swim projects.
More Metalocalypse In 2023
One of the major musical highlights of the festival was the return of Dethklok, the fictional band from the animated series Metalocalypse that also performs as a real group. It was their first live performance in three years, and wasn't the only major news from the event for their fans.
It was revealed during the festival that there would be more Metalocalypse in 2023. While this most likely indicates a release date for the upcoming Metalocalypse feature film, it could also hint at a return to television for the series.
A Smiling Friends Feature Film And Video Game Have Both Been Considered
Smiling Friends was one of the several Adult Swim shows to have a panel at Adult Swim Festival 2022. Creators Zach Hadel and Michael Cusack answered several questions about the series and its future, including possible plans for expanding past the franchise beyond the show itself.
The duo confirmed that though the show is still in its infancy with only a single season to its name, they both have an interest in adapting the show into a feature-length film or possibly a video game,
Smiling Friends Season 2 Will Be A Continuation But Not Repetitive
Smiling Friends became a huge hit with audiences to its boundless creativity. Any viewer worried that the show will fall into a tired formula need not worry, as Zach Hadel and Michael Cusack confirmed that they are being very mindful to not retread what they have already done.
The show's premise and central characters will carry on into the second season, but plenty of new ideas and even more new characters will be added into the mix.
The Smiling Friends Go To Brazil
Before it officially premiered on Adult Swim, Adult Swim Festival 2022 attendees were treated to a showing of the new Smiling Friends special, The Smiling Friends Go to Brazil!
A one-off adventure and the ninth episode overall of the series, the special was a nice treat for fans as they eagerly await the premiere of the show's second season. The episode sees Pim, Charlie, Allan, and Glep take a much-needed trip to Brazil, to hilarious results.
Aqua Teen Forever: Plantasm Release Date
Ever since it was announced back in 2021 that Adult Swim series Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Metalocalypse, and The Venture Bros. would be receiving feature films, very little information had been revealed about any of the projects.
That finally changed at Adult Swim festival 2022, with Aqua Teen Hunger Force being the first of the series to give their film an official release date. Aqua Teen Forever: Plantasm will release physically in both 4K and Blu-ray as well as digitally via VOD, on November 8, 2022.
Aqua Teen Forever: Plantasm First Look
The Aqua Teen team didn't stop there, however, taking it a step further by showing an official first look at the Aqua Teen Forever: Plantasm film. The action-packed and gory clip sees Master Shake heroically battle a mutated "John Carpenter thingamajig" version of Carl.
The stunning action and gorgeously smooth animation are a major shift from one of Adult Swim's funniest shows, and had many fans wondering exactly what else the series has up its sleeve for the new movie.
Run The Jewels Will Do The New Aqua Teen Theme
During the Aqua Teen Hunger Force panel, one of the major topics of discussion was the show's iconic theme song. The panel first talked about the conception of the theme and having Philadelphia native Schoolly D create an epic and tough song that would humorously clash completely with the complete incompetency and mundanity of its characters.
It was then revealed that one of the festival's musical acts, Run the Jewels, have created a new version of the theme song for the upcoming film.
Rick: A Mort Well Lived
The sixth season of Rick and Morty is fast approaching, having recently released its official trailer and announced a premiere date of September 4th.
Adult Swim Festival 2022 attendees were lucky enough to see a special screening of the season 6 episode, "Rick: A Mort Well Lived," whose episode title seems to hint at the unbelievably quotable Rick Sanchez and Morty once again encountering the "Roy: A Life Well Lived" game at Blips and Chitz from season 2.
A Citadel Secret
After the special screening, the audience was treated to another surprise, one that would later be shared with the internet in a brief video titled "A Citadel Secret." The short clip shows a giant egg floating in a vat, then the entire laboratory begins to crumble and catch on fire.
The video ends just as the vat begins to crack and ooze out a green liquid. The Evil Morty theme, an instrumental version of Blonde Redhead's "For the Damaged Coda" plays in the background, indicating that the series is going to be following up on one of its best episodes.
Wrapped Around Your Finger Music Video
In collaboration with Adult Swim, Post Malone premiered his newest music video for his song "Wrapped Around Your Finger" at Adult Swim Festival 2022.
Directed by Jacob Escobedo, the video, filled with some cosmically trippy imagery and vibrant animation, fit in perfectly with the other Adult Swim content on display at the festival. The collaboration didn't stop there, with Post Malone even naming his favorite Adult Swim episodes to watch in a special playlist on the Adult Swim hub of the HBO Max app.