Warner hires director for Rick and Morty movie

Warner Bros. is moving ahead with a “Rick and Morty” movie, according to multiple trade reports published May 19 and May 20, with franchise veteran Jacob Hair in talks to direct. The project is described as being in early development, and plot details have not been made public. The first report came from The Insneider on May 19, and Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter later matched the broad outline of the story. (deadline.com) Jacob Hair is a longtime creative on the Adult Swim series rather than an outside hire. Deadline reported that Hair joined “Rick and Morty” in 2019, has directed numerous episodes and serves as supervising director on the show. (press.wbd.com) That makes the reported move notable mainly as an internal promotion from the TV franchise’s existing creative bench. ### Who is Jacob Hair, and why is his name central to this report? Deadline identified Jacob Hair as the filmmaker in talks to direct the feature and described him as a franchise veteran. The outlet said he has directed multiple episodes since joining the show in 2019 and has also worked as supervising director. (hollywoodreporter.com) The Hollywood Reporter separately reported that Hair, who has directed episodes of the series since 2019, is in talks to helm an animated feature version for Warner Bros. While neither trade report laid out a production schedule, both described the movie as being in early development. (deadline.com) ### How much of this is officially confirmed by Warner or Adult Swim? Warner Bros. and Adult Swim have not, in the materials reviewed, issued a standalone announcement for the movie itself. The movie news is currently grounded in trade reporting, beginning with The Insneider’s May 19 exclusive and followed by confirmations from Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter. (deadline.com) The most recent official company statement tied to the franchise is a March 11 Warner Bros. Discovery press release about Season 9. That release confirmed the return date for the series, named Dan Harmon and Scott Marder as executive producers, and said the show remains Adult Swim’s top franchise. (hollywoodreporter.com) ### What has Dan Harmon said before about a movie? Dan Harmon has been talking publicly about a possible feature for years. Deadline said Harmon had alluded to plans for “a super badass” feature-length episode over a number of years, underscoring that a movie adaptation has circulated as an idea well before this week’s reports. (hollywoodreporter.com) The current reports do not include full plot details, a release date, or a distribution plan. They do, however, place the project inside Warner Bros. rather than framing it as a separate Adult Swim special. (press.wbd.com) ### Why is this surfacing now? May 24 is the next major date on the franchise calendar. Warner Bros. Discovery said in its March 11 release that Season 9 of “Rick and Morty” premieres Sunday, May 24, at 11 p.m. ET/PT on Adult Swim. (deadline.com) That release also said new episodes will be available for purchase from digital retailers the day after their linear debut and will begin streaming weekly in the United States on June 15. The timing means the movie report has arrived days before the show returns with new episodes. (hollywoodreporter.com) ### What else is happening around the franchise? Adult Swim said Season 9 will roll out in more than 170 countries and 42 languages. The company’s March release also said the series stars Ian Cardoni, Harry Belden, Sarah Chalke, Chris Parnell and Spencer Grammer, with Harmon and Marder continuing in top creative roles. (press.wbd.com) Deadline also reported that another spinoff, “President Curtis,” starring Keith David, is in the works for Adult Swim. That places the movie report inside a broader period of franchise expansion rather than as a one-off development. (press.wbd.com) ### What happens next, and what should readers watch for? May 24 is the next confirmed milestone, when Season 9 premieres on Adult Swim at 11 p.m. ET/PT, according to Warner Bros. Discovery. The next concrete signs on the film side would be a formal studio announcement, a confirmed directing deal for Jacob Hair, or named producers and release plans from Warner Bros. or Adult Swim. (press.wbd.com) (deadline.com)