Summary
Solar Opposites season 4 is the biggest and strongest yet, with ridiculous adventures for the Solar family and a focus on Korvo and Terry's relationship.
The storyline surrounding The Wall in season 4 is grand and ambitious, showcasing the meticulous planning by the writers to build up to an impressive climax.
Cherie has endured a challenging journey, yet there is a glimmer of hope for a satisfying resolution. The creators of the show possess a plethora of ideas for further exploring The Wall, making them eagerly anticipate the forthcoming seasons 6 and 7.
Solar Opposites season 4 returns with a captivating twist as everyone's favorite alien family attempts to live ordinary lives in order to avoid a potentially fatal metamorphosis caused by the Pupa. Led by Dan Stevens, a star-studded cast including Thomas Middleditch, Marcy Mack, Sean Giambrone, Tiffany Haddish, and Christina Hendricks, takes center stage in this acclaimed Hulu sci-fi comedy. Maintaining the beloved hijinks that have made the show a hit in previous seasons, while also showcasing character and subplot evolution, this latest installment of the Hulu series promises to be its most impressive yet.
Screen Rant recently conducted an exclusive interview with supervising producer Sydney Ryan to delve into various aspects of Solar Opposites season 4. The interview touched upon the show's expanded narratives, the dynamics of the family, its future trajectory, and the recasting decisions made by Justin Roiland. It is important to note that this article was written amidst the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, and it acknowledges the crucial contribution of writers and actors from both unions in bringing the show to life.
Sydney Ryan Talks Solar Opposites Season 4
Season 4 of Screen Rant is considered one of the largest yet, thanks to its compelling narratives of The Wall, Silvercops, and the profound impact of the Pupa on the family's dynamics. What was the writers' primary objective when creating this new season?
Sydney Ryan: Our fourth season is our grandest and most robust yet! The writers dedicated their efforts to unite the Solar family for a plethora of captivating stories, ensuring that fans will be thrilled by the ludicrous adventures they embark on. Additionally, the writers focused on delving deeper into Korvo and Terry's relationship, and it has been heartwarming to witness the growth of their connection. Korvo and Terry are not only teammates but also partners, and their bond is undeniably endearing!
Which storyline in this season's development required the most effort and focus?
Sydney Ryan: Cherie's spy thriller plot in The Wall is a significant and ambitious aspect of this season. The writers dedicated a significant amount of time to determine how this storyline should unfold. They strategically integrated it throughout the season, which gives the feeling of watching an entire dramatic series one piece at a time. The balance between the Solar's outrageous and humorous actions and the dramatic intensity of The Wall is what sets Solar apart and makes it unique. Each season, we aim to culminate The Wall story with a powerful standalone episode. This means that the writers must be cautious not to have too many Wall stories leading up to the climax, while still keeping the element of surprise. The Wall (and the Silvercops stories) require meticulous planning that spans across multiple seasons.
The plot surrounding The Wall in the show remains captivating, and intriguingly, this season seems to be approaching its conclusion. Are the writers in agreement, or do you, Mike, and the rest of the team have additional ideas in mind?
Sydney Ryan: Mike McMahan and Josh Bycel brainstorm different themes for each season of The Wall, and they thoroughly enjoy the process. Season 1 took on the vibe of an Escape From New York drama, followed by a captivating murder mystery in Season 2. Season 3 featured a thrilling creature feature, and now, in Season 4, we delve into a gripping Cold War spy drama. Countless untapped ideas for The Wall exist, allowing for an endless array of possibilities. However, Mike has an overall plan for The Wall's storyline that requires at least a few more seasons to unfold. Although he hasn't shared all the details with me, he's enthusiastic about his vision for Seasons 6 and 7.
On a related note, does Cherie have any chance of finding a happy ending? Over the past three seasons, she's endured significant hardships, and Season 4 seems to present one of her most emotionally challenging journeys yet.
Sydney Ryan: Cherie has certainly faced significant challenges throughout the seasons, and whether she will ultimately have a happy ending is a question that only Mike can answer. If I were to guess, I sincerely hope that she will find a positive resolution. It would be incredibly disheartening to witness her endure such hardships without emerging victorious in the end. Nonetheless, I possess only a vague idea of the direction her story may take in the future, and my fervent wish is for a Season 6, allowing us to further delve into her narrative.
I was thrilled to hear Spencer Grammer make an appearance this season as a Rick and Morty fan. Were you actively trying to involve more of the cast in the show, or did you personally feel she was perfect for her character?
Sydney Ryan: Upon reading Episode 407 "The Cardboard Dead Drop," I immediately thought Spencer would be an excellent fit for that significant character. When I suggested her during the casting meeting, I was excited to hear Mike McMahan agree right away. Spencer Grammer is an exceptional actress, and it was truly wonderful to collaborate with her once again! Mike and I thoroughly enjoyed working with that cast, and I would eagerly seize the opportunity to work with Sarah Chalke and Chris Parnell again as well. We shared many years together, and not only are they incredibly talented, but we also have a great rapport. It's refreshing to collaborate with people who understand the show and its vision!
This season concludes on an intriguing note, hinting at a new setting for the confirmed fifth season. Will this new location continue to be the focal point of the story, or are there intentions to revisit the previous home of Solar-Opposites in the future?
Sydney Ryan: The writers constantly strive to create season finales that bring about transformative shifts in the show, and the Season 4 finale introduces larger changes than ever before. While I can't disclose many details about Season 5, I can assure you that we are already deeply involved in production and have crafted hilarious stories that fans will adore.
With Justin Roiland's legal battles now in the spotlight, I imagine you and your team were as surprised as the audience. Can you share how this season was affected by his departure, not only from this show but also from other projects? While the premiere contained a joke addressing this situation, I'm interested to know if it resulted in any significant revisions throughout the rest of the series.
Sydney Ryan: The only major change we made to the season was adding a Cold Open in the first episode to explain the voice change in the show's world. It's pretty clear that the scene after the opening credits was originally intended as the Cold Open, but it still works well. [Chuckles] The voice change didn't require any alterations to the Korvo stories this year, so there was no need for rewrites. We've had fun letting Dan Stevens improvise some British slang into the dialogue, and it never fails to make us laugh. Since we had already completed the season and were in the advanced stages of post-production, the main change was ensuring that we could record our new Korvo's voice and update the animation to match the new performance seamlessly.
Dan Stevens does an excellent job of making Korvo his own while staying true to the beloved qualities audiences have come to expect from the character. It's interesting, though, that the Rick and Morty team is currently searching for a soundalike for season 7, while we decided to go with an entirely new voice for Korvo. Was there any consideration given to a similar approach when finding a replacement for Roiland, or did it feel like the best choice was to go for someone completely fresh? I'd also be curious to hear about the overall search process and how you ultimately selected Dan.
Sydney Ryan: In our quest to find a new actor for the role of Korvo, we were determined not to replicate the previous voice. We believed that doing so would create an unsettling feeling, akin to the uncanny valley, or even a mere cover song. Solar Opposites is a series that embraces the bizarre. The aliens possess ray guns capable of shrinking individuals and bringing books to life, among countless other unimaginable occurrences. With this unexpected twist, we found it amusing to seize the opportunity and explore something outlandish. Fully aware that the recasting would already draw attention, we chose to embrace it, making it a memorable and enjoyable experience. Collaborating with our exceptional casting team, we carefully reviewed numerous auditions and met with many talented actors. It was Marci Proietto, the Executive Vice President and Head of 20th Television Animation, who proposed Dan for the role. She had witnessed his exceptional work on a previous 20th show. Interestingly, Dan was already a fan of Solar Opposites, which was truly fantastic. Furthermore, his audition was not only amusing but also heartfelt. Portraying Korvo is a complex task, as the character is perpetually grumpy and irritable, yet still endearing. Dan managed to strike the perfect balance! He is an extraordinary actor, and we consider ourselves incredibly fortunate to have him as part of our show.
About Solar Opposites Season 4
Solar Opposites revolves around a quartet of extraterrestrials who hold contrasting viewpoints on whether Earth is dreadful or outstanding. Korvo (portrayed by Dan Stevens) and Yumyulack (portrayed by Sean Giambrone) perceive nothing but pollution, crass consumerism, and human frailty, whereas Terry (portrayed by Thomas Middleditch) and Jesse (portrayed by Mary Mack) indulge in their love for television, junk food, and all things entertaining. The series "Solar Opposites" is executive produced by Mike McMahan and Josh Bycel, with its production undertaken by 20th Television Animation.
Solar Opposites season 4 is now streaming on Hulu!