Christopher Lloyd played Rick Sanchez in a series of promos for Rick and Morty season 5, and he could return in a proper in-show cameo in season 6. The Adult Swim series constantly plays around with the idea of alternate dimensions featuring different versions of the show’s characters, which could allow for some juxtaposed live-action moments. Rick and Morty season 6 needs to change things up to keep the show fresh and interesting, and a proper cameo from Lloyd’s Rick could be perfect.
Before Rick and Morty existed as it does today, Justin Roiland created the original idea in an animated short called The Real Animated Adventures of Doc and Mharti. As the name implies, the short was a spoof of Back to the Future featuring extreme parodies of the Doc Brown (Lloyd) and Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) characters. The idea of a young high school student and an older, eccentric scientist going on wild sci-fi adventures is the core of Rick and Morty, and it was directly inspired by Back to the Future from the start. Therefore, Rick himself is largely based on the character of Doc Brown, at least his general appearance and occupation.
Obviously, Rick has grown into a very different character since the start of the show — but when Christopher Lloyd appeared in the Rick and Morty season 5 finale promos, it still seemed like a perfect fit. Lloyd’s unique brand of intense and frenetic comedic energy matches perfectly with Rick’s core persona, and the viewers who saw the promos quickly took to the internet to rave about Lloyd’s version of the character. While the Back to the Future star has only appeared in promos so far, it’s possible that he could return in a full-blown cameo in Rick and Morty season 6.
Christopher Lloyd's Rick And Morty Promos Were A Huge Hit
Christopher Lloyd’s surprise appearance in the promos for the Rick and Morty season 5 finale quickly went viral online, both because of his documented status as the original inspiration for the Rick character, and because of how well he embodied his persona on screen. Roiland’s Rick is one of the most popular characters of the modern TV age, with lots of complexity, depth, and iconic mannerisms like his frequent burps. Rick’s origins and backstory alone have been the subject of countless fan theories and constant internet speculation — and yet, in just a few brief promos, Lloyd sold himself as a perfect choice for a live-action Rick.
Rick and Morty is a show with a massive and diverse fan base that cares deeply about how things in the series are handled, how characters are treated, and what kinds of stories are told. Because of this, the kind of widespread enthusiasm sparked by Lloyd’s Rick is hard to come by. It may be that some viewers just had fun with the promos because of their brevity, and that they would be less interested in a larger role for Lloyd’s live-action Rick in Rick and Morty going forward; however, if his next appearance doesn’t overstay its welcome, Lloyd could still be a big hit in Rick and Morty season 6, as he’s already proven his ability to embody the character loyally and hilariously.
Rick And Morty Season 6 Needs To Change Things Up
The Rick and Morty season 5 finale has been widely praised, largely for its satisfying return to two major plotlines – Rick’s mysterious origin story and Evil Morty’s plan, which was set up in season 1. Both came together in spectacular fashion, sending the season out on an incredibly high note. However, the reception to the rest of Rick and Morty season 5 prior to the finale wasn’t quite as universally positive. The show is still one of the best animated series on TV or streaming, the writing is still terrific, and all the performances remain top-notch. But season 5 also received more lukewarm reviews than the show has in the past, and the overall viewership suffered. Some critics even called out what they saw as lazy humor and redundant storylines.
Arcs like the giant sperms, the incest baby, and the bizarre thanksgiving episode still satisfied many who tuned in to watch, but more and more viewers have ascribed to the belief that Rick and Morty isn’t quite as inventive and emotionally compelling as it once was. If the show wants to keep living up to the reputation it's built, Rick and Morty season 6 is going to need to change things up. New kinds of adventures, more overarching plotlines, and shifting character relationships are all ways to do that, but the show could also do with some shakeups in its visual presentation. Animated series have made great use of live-action segments in the past, and if Rick and Morty were to attempt such a feat in season 6, Christopher Lloyd’s Rick could bring a fresh, new energy with it.
How Christopher Lloyd Could Appear In Rick And Morty Season 6
At the end of Rick and Morty season 5, Evil Morty explained the Central Finite Curve – a subset of all the infinite realities of the multiverse in which Rick is always the smartest person. Evil Morty then blasts a hole through the curve and escapes it, revealing an even bigger multiverse beyond. If Rick and Morty season 6 starts to explore realities outside the curve, it could lead to some creative new stories and fun surprises. It could also explain how a live-action universe could blend with the existing canon, allowing Lloyd’s Rick to enter the show for real.
Rick and Morty is already deeply entrenched in meta-humor, so having a live-action Rick and Morty universe appear in some capacity in the show wouldn’t be much of a reach. He could appear through a portal for just a split-second cameo, or he could be the focal point of a whole episode, forcing Rick to contend, cooperate, or possibly compete with a very different version of himself than he’s ever encountered before. Or, maybe Lloyd could appear in an interdimensional cable sketch, with some kind of nod being thrown to his role as the original inspiration for Rick. Because the show trades so extensively in alternate realities and meta-comedy, there are numerous ways Christopher Lloyd’s Rick could be incorporated, and it would be great to see him get a proper cameo in Rick and Morty season 6.