Rick and Morty Just Released a Secret New Episode: Release Details, Plot Twist & Easter Eggs Explained

Adult Swim’s multiverse just got bigger. Less than two months after the Season 8 finale of Rick and Morty aired on July 27, 2025, the network confirmed that the sci-fi comedy is already locked in for Season 9—and, in fact, for at least four more seasons, guaranteeing adventures through Season 12. But the real surprise dropped at San Diego Comic-Con: Adult Swim green-lit President Curtis, a standalone animated series that will follow Keith David’s fan-favorite Commander-in-Chief as he tackles interdimensional diplomacy, paranormal crises, and the sort of cosmic catastrophes Rick usually ignores. According to the network, production is underway for a 2026 premiere, with Dan Harmon and James Siciliano serving as show-runners. Season 9 of Rick and Morty is expected to begin recording this fall; insiders say Adult Swim wants to maintain its new annual release rhythm, which means new episodes could land as early as summer 2026. Writers have hinted that unresolved arcs—Evil Summer’s rise, Space Beth’s secret mission, and the return of the Omega-verse Beth clones—will anchor the next ten-episode run. The main series won’t be the only way to get a portal-gun fix. Rick and Morty: The Anime, directed by Tower of God’s Takashi Sano, continues to stream on Max after its August 2024 U.S. launch, drawing strong international numbers and spawning weekly “Schwifty Sunday” watch-parties on social media. Adult Swim is also quietly developing a second anthology anime project that would adapt fan-favorite one-shots like “Samurai & Shogun” into full-length episodes, sources tell us. Why the explosion of content? Rick and Morty remains Adult Swim’s top-rated show among adults 18-34, and its Season 8 run averaged 1.9 million multiplatform viewers per episode—even beating several broadcast prime-time comedies in the demo. Expanding the universe keeps fans engaged—and keeps merchandise flying off shelves. What to watch next • Rewatch Season 8’s finale, “Hot Rick,” to catch the teased President Curtis Easter egg. • Look for the first teaser trailer for President Curtis this winter; Adult Swim plans to premiere it during its annual Toonami holiday marathon. • Expect a Season 9 release-date announcement at next spring’s Annecy Animation Festival, where Adult Swim traditionally unveils new footage. Whether you’re here for the canonical chaos of Season 9, the political parody of President Curtis, or the high-octane action of the anime, 2026 is shaping up to be the most schwifty year yet for Rick and Morty fans.