Why Solar Opposites Season 4 Breaks the Mold: No Justin Roiland Soundalike and the Surprising Reason Behind It!

Summary

Solar Opposites season 4 chose not to cast a Justin Roiland soundalike for Korvo to avoid an "uncanny valley" feeling and create something memorable and fun.

Viewers have been divided by the decision to choose a completely different voice for Korvo, resulting in the season receiving a 39% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Opting for a voice that does not mimic Roiland not only avoids imitating the previous star's voice, but also allows for a more innovative direction for the show, which could potentially be explored again in the future.

Supervising producer Sydney Ryan sat down with Screen Rant to discuss Solar Opposites season 4, addressing the decision to avoid casting a Justin Roiland soundalike. After Roiland's dismissal from the show and his other projects due to felony domestic abuse charges, the production team opted to go in a different direction. Ryan explained that they wanted to steer clear of creating an "uncanny valley" experience and instead embraced the opportunity to create something unique and enjoyable. Read on for Ryan's full explanation below.

Upon learning that Korvo would be recast, we decided against mimicking the previous voice. Doing so would have felt eerie, like something out of the uncanny valley, or akin to performing a cover song. In Solar, where bizarre things are perfectly normal – aliens wielding shrinking ray guns, or bringing books to life, for instance – we saw an opportunity to embrace this unexpected change and do something daring. We collaborated with our incredible casting team, listened to countless auditions, and met with numerous talented actors. Marci Proietto, the Executive Vice President and Head of 20th Television Animation, suggested Dan for the role because of his exceptional performance in another 20th show. As it turned out, Dan was already a fan of Solar Opposites, which was fantastic. Furthermore, his audition showcased both hilarity and heartfelt delivery. Portraying Korvo – a character who is constantly gruff and angry, yet deeply loved – is a complex task. Dan flawlessly navigated this delicate balance, proving himself to be an extraordinary actor. We consider ourselves extremely fortunate to have him join the show.

(Please note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, and the creation of the mentioned show would not have been possible without the collective efforts of writers and actors from both unions.)

Solar Opposites Has A More Secure Future Than Rick & Morty

The announcement of Roiland's legal issues deeply concerned longtime fans of both Rick and Morty and Solar Opposites, as his voice was notoriously difficult to replicate in a serious manner. This also raised worries about the future of both shows, considering that future seasons had already been confirmed, and whether they could continue successfully without his involvement if his dismissal resulted in a decline in viewership.

At first, the decision to cast Dan Stevens, who sounds nothing like Roiland, as the replacement voice received a mixed response from Solar Opposites viewers. While the initial trailer and the subsequent premiere of the show were praised by critics, audiences have been divided on the recasting, with season 4 currently holding a 39% approval rating on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. It remains uncertain whether this division has positively or negatively affected the show's viewership numbers, given that the season is still relatively new.

Solar Opposites season 4 is currently available for streaming on Hulu.