Justin Roiland: Rick and Morty creator dropped by Hulu as well as Adult Swim

Image source, Getty Images

Justin Roiland has pleaded not guilty to the charges

By Paul Glynn

Entertainment reporter

US streaming site Hulu has followed TV channel Adult Swim in dropping Rick and Morty co-creator and voice actor Justin Roiland, over charges of domestic violence against an ex-girlfriend.

Mr Roiland voiced the title characters in Adult Swim's Emmy-winning animated sitcom about a scientist and his grandson.

He also worked on Solar Opposites and Hulu's other animated show, Koala Man.

Mr Roiland denies the charges. A trial date has not yet been set.

Hulu and 20th TV Animation said in a statement on Wednesday that it had "ended our association with Justin Roiland", though according to the PA news agency, both of its above shows are expected to continue without him.

Image source, Adult Swim/WarnerMedia

Rick and Morty won the Emmy for best animated programme in 2018 and 2020

It comes after Adult Swim, part of the Cartoon Network, said earlier this week that Mr Roiland's best-known work, Rick and Morty, would go on without its co-creator and star for its seventh season, with his roles reportedly to be recast.

A statement released on Tuesday said: "Adult Swim has ended its association with Justin Roiland.

"Rick and Morty will continue. The talented and dedicated crew are hard at work on season seven."

The gaming company set up by Mr Roiland in 2016, Squanch Games, also revealed on Wednesday it had "received Justin Roiland's resignation" earlier this month.

"The passionate team at Squanch will keep developing games we know our fans will love while continuing to support and improve High On Life," they said.

In May 2020, prosecutors in California charged Mr Roiland, 42, with two charges of domestic battery with corporal injury and false imprisonment by menace, violence, fraud and/or deceit, of an unidentified woman who was living with him at the time.

A police complaint said the incident, which allegedly occurred on or around 19 January of the same year, resulted "in a traumatic condition" for the woman.

His lawyer said in a statement that his client was "innocent", adding: "We look forward to clearing Justin's name and helping him move forward as swiftly as possible."

Mr Roiland appeared at a pre-trial hearing earlier this month and is set to return to court in April, ahead of a trial. He could face up to seven years in prison.

He created the anarchic animated sitcom Rick and Morty with Dan Harmon in 2013, and it won the Emmy for best animated programme in 2018 and 2020.

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