The highly anticipated Rick and Morty movie is still in its earliest stages, but co-creator Dan Harmon is already sharing some grand ambitions. After wrapping up the show’s ninth season and launching a new spin-off, fans are eager to hear what is next for the franchise on the big screen.
According to Harmon, the team has a solid concept they are dreaming about, and it sounds like a massive sci-fi adventure is on the horizon.
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Drawing inspiration from recent sci-fi blockbusters
Harmon revealed to the Hollywood Reporter that there is no official script yet, but the team has an approved idea to work from. Interestingly, he has been heavily inspired by Denis Villeneuve’s Dune films while thinking about the upcoming movie. After watching the desert epics, he said the experience directly influenced his approach to the script, joking about being late to the Dune party but loving it.
The overall goal is incredibly ambitious. Harmon wants the feature to be a massive science fiction epic that bends time and space, while still giving fans a satisfying story. He compared the tone to classic adventure and action films like Indiana Jones and Lethal Weapon 2, hinting at a blend of high stakes and the show’s signature humor.
While veteran director Jacob Hair is on board, the project is still very much in the conceptual phase.
Dan told THR:
“It would be my goal, however self-destructive, to make it the greatest movie ever to exist. That might make it hard to write. It would probably be a sci-fi epic, transcending time and space, but not in a way that was unsatisfying”.
Balancing high expectations with creative freedom
Aiming to create the greatest movie ever is a tough challenge, and Harmon knows it. He openly joked about how self-destructive that goal might be, noting that giving himself too much freedom to overthink the concept could be a recipe for disaster. He even referred to his own creative process as a “trailhead to hell” when the expectations are set so high.
Despite the self-deprecating humor, it is clear the creative team wants to deliver something special rather than just an extended television episode. The franchise is currently riding high with multiple seasons still in development and its spin-off President Curtis already renewed for a second run.
If the team can channel those high-concept ideas into a focused narrative, the big-screen debut could end up being one of the most exciting animated projects in recent memory.
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