A profile of Rick and Morty co-creator Dan Harmon confirms that the long wait for a season 4 renewal was the result of tough contract negotiations. Rick and Morty fans aren't exactly known for being patient, so it's little wonder that the long wait for news of season 4 was making them antsy. It was especially confusing in light of the massive success of the previous three seasons, which have made the show one of the most talked-about and highly-praised new cartoon series of the decade.
When news finally landed about Rick and Morty season 4, it landed with a bang, as Adult Swim green lit not only another season but a staggering 70 more episodes. It's the kind of deal that's virtually unheard-of in television, and the contract negotiations that would have been involved certainly explain why it took so long for Rick and Morty to be officially renewed.
Related: Rick and Morty's Massive Renewal May Explain Season 4 Delay
Now an in-depth profile of Dan Harmon in GQ has confirmed that he and Rick and Morty co-creator Justin Roiland were holding out for the best deal possible. At the time of the interview, Harmon and Roiland were still in the process of negotiating their new contract, and they wanted something that would grant them, if not "immortality," than at the very least "many, many, many more seasons." They also wanted high enough pay for their work so that, as Roiland put "[Harmon] doesn't have to take 12 other jobs while we're working on season four."
The GQ interviewer caught up with Harmon again after Rick and Morty had been officially renewed, and the showrunner was "ecstatic" about being given the go-ahead, saying, "I can finally actually breathe and be as excited as I’ve wanted to be." 70 more episodes might sound pretty daunting - especially when you consider the fact that, at the pace Rick and Morty episodes are released, it could take a couple of decades before those episodes are completed - but it sounds like Harmon would be perfectly happy to spend the next 20 years writing the show:
“Rick and Morty is the highest creative opportunity you could ever be afforded as a writer. It's an infinite sandbox... It's the perfect show. It's the most important thing I've ever done. I only want it forever.”
More: Rick and Morty Season 4: Every Update You Need To Know
Rick and Morty season 4 doesn't have a premiere date yet, but we'll keep you updated on all the latest news.