The Shocking Truth Behind Susan Sarandon's Role in Rick and Morty

The controversial casting of Susan Sarandon as Dr. Wong in Rick And Morty sparked debates and discussions. The animated series, originally a cult success, quickly gained popularity and attracted numerous high-profile guest stars. Throughout its run, notable names such as Sam Neill, Alison Brie, Taika Waititi, and Jack Black have made cameo appearances. However, one of the most significant guest stars was featured in the beloved episode "Pickle Rick" during season 3, where Rick hilariously transforms himself into a pickle.

Beyond the comedic aspect, Rick's decision to become a pickle was driven by his reluctance to attend therapy sessions with his family. To portray the role of Dr. Wong, Rick And Morty enlisted the talents of Academy Award winner Susan Sarandon. Dr. Wong, a therapist, calmly dissects the various layers of dysfunction within the Smith family, offering insights to both Beth and Rick. She succinctly highlights Rick's tendency to use his intellect as a shield against emotional engagement. Dr. Wong quickly became a fan favorite following her debut appearance, and Sarandon has reprised the role in both season 4 and the recent "Analyze Piss" episode of season 6.

Dr. Wong Was Created To Bring An Asian Character Into Rick & Morty

However, there was some criticism regarding the casting of Sarandon as a Chinese-American character after her debut on Rick And Morty. Writer Jessica Gao had specifically created the character of Dr. Wong as a means of introducing an Asian character to the series. During a discussion of the episode on the Whiting Wongs podcast with Rick And Morty co-creator Dan Harmon, Gao explained that if a writer does not specify a character's ethnicity in the script, casting directors often default to casting Caucasian actors in the role.

Gao wanted to create a significant role for an Asian actor on Rick And Morty with Dr. Wong. The show's creators began searching for Asian actors to play the role when an unexpected opportunity arose. Sarandon, who had won an Academy Award for her performance in Dead Man Walking and received four other acting nominations, expressed her admiration for Rick And Morty and inquired about a guest role on the show.

Sarandon Was Offered Dr. Wong As It Was A Great Role

After Sarandon's casting, Gao approached Harmon about changing the character's name. However, Harmon didn't understand why Gao felt so strongly and the conversation that followed focused on the importance of representation. Gao emphasized the significance of seeing oneself reflected in media and explained that the issue wasn't just about losing one Asian American character, but the lack of representation overall. She emphasized that the intention behind creating the character was to promote diversity and representation.

Sarandon's portrayal of Dr. Wong in Rick And Morty coincided with a growing awareness of the practice of casting white actors to voice characters of color in animated shows. This issue was exemplified by Hank Azaria's portrayal of Apu on The Simpsons, which he later relinquished, and Alison Brie's portrayal of Diana, a Vietnamese-American character, on Bojack Horseman. The casting of Sarandon as Dr. Wong prompted a broader discussion on the topic, although unlike other series that chose to recast such roles, Sarandon has remained in the role of Wong.

Harmon & Gao Created A Podcast Called Whiting Wongs About The Controversy

In response to the controversy surrounding the casting of Dr. Wong, Harmon and Gao decided to confront the issue directly by creating a podcast called Whiting Wongs. In the podcast's first episode, they specifically discussed the "Pickle Rick" episode of Rick And Morty and the series of events that led to Sarandon's casting. Harmon also acknowledges that he never considered changing Wong's name to something like "Johnson" because he believed that if he couldn't achieve diversity in casting, at least the character herself would serve as representation.

The Whiting Wongs podcast aired for a single season, utilizing the Rick And Morty controversy as a starting point for discussions on racial diversity and portrayal in media, spanning across different time periods. Although the controversy surrounding Sarandon's casting seems to have subsided, potentially because Wong rarely makes appearances on Rick And Morty, it played a significant role in initiating a crucial conversation about the issue of whitewashing in animated content, which continues to be relevant today.