Ever since the adult animated science fiction sitcom first aired on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim programming block in 2013, Rick and Morty has been a hit with viewers. Winning a swathe of awards and earning Cartoon Network some of its highest ratings in years, the hilarious misadventures of cynical mad scientist Rick Sanchez and his gormless grandson Morty Smith has gained a fan following unlike any other.
Whether demanding McDonald’s gives them a special supply of Szechuan sauce, or shouting “I’m Pickle Rick!” at some inopportune moments, fans of Rick and Morty have been vocal and influential. But there’s been one fan who is probably more influential than any other: Marvel Studios head honcho, Kevin Feige.
Indeed, although Feige hasn’t publicly spoken about his affinity for Rick and Morty, the proof is in his actions: multiple creative talents associated with the show are now involved in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). From the outside looking in, it would appear that Feige’s appreciation for this referential carton series has incited him to get some of their best talents aboard.
Take Jessica Gao, for instance, the showrunner for the upcoming MCU mini-series, She-Hulk. Despite having a varied career in TV writing, with stints at shows like Robot Chicken, The High Fructose Adventures of the Annoying Orange, and Silicon Valley, Gao first rose to prominence by writing the Rick and Morty episode, ‘Pickle Rick.’ A beloved episode among fans, in ‘Pickle Rick’ Rick turns himself into a pickle in an attempt to avoid therapy with his family, eventually equipping his pickle form with an Iron Man-like suit of armor, made from objects found in a sewer.
Clearly, Feige was a fan of this referential nod to MCU’s 2008 film, as he offered Gao a key writing position within the MCU. With She-Hulk being released in 2022 and starring Tatiana Maslany, many industry insiders are predicting that the character may be a key part of the MCU moving forward, meaning Gao’s role as writer is critical; Kevin Feige obviously has faith in her, following ‘Pickle Rick.’
Additionally, Jeff Loveness has enjoyed a similar trajectory to Gao. Beginning his career as a staff writer for Jimmy Kimmel Live, Loveness joined Rick and Morty for their fourth season, writing and producing critically acclaimed episodes like ‘Never Ricking Morty’ (a postmodern breakdown of the TV show’s story structure) and ‘The Vat of Acid Episode’ (where Rick forces Morty to accept a vat of fake acid is a ‘good’ idea). However, following their broadcast, Loveness was snapped up by Marvel Studios, brought in to write Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, which is set to introduce uber-popular character Kang, portrayed by Jonathan Majors. Another key title for the MCU, it would seem Feige trusts Rick and Morty writers to handle important projects.
Alternatively, there is also Michael Waldron. A long-time collaborator of Rick and Morty co-creator Dan Harmon, Waldron previously worked as a writing assistant and writer on Community and HarmonQuest before joining Rick and Morty for its fourth season. Writing the episode ‘The Old Man and the Seat’, where Rick engages in a feud over a private toilet, Waldron has since been brought in to work on three key projects with Feige.
First, he’s the showrunner and executive producer on the upcoming Loki mini-series, which explores the God of Mischief’s misadventures following Avengers: Endgame. Secondly, he’s also writing the script for 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Many industry insiders have pointed to this title as being a lynchpin in the future of the MCU, culminating in the multiverse story arcs featured in Wandavision, Loki, and the currently untitled Spider-Man: Far From Home sequel. For Waldon to write this title, it illustrates that Feige has a great deal of faith in the writer’s ability. If that wasn’t enough, Waldron has also been tapped to write Feige’s mysterious upcoming Star Wars film – it is abundantly clear that this former Rick and Morty writer has won the affection of Marvel’s big boss.
Therefore, between Gao, Loveness, and Waldron, it would definitely appear that Kevin Feige is a fan of Rick and Morty: he’s brought in some of the TV show’s best writers to contribute to the future of the MCU, illustrating himself as a fan of the series. Moreover, this habit of co-opting talent based on their TV work isn’t a new pattern from Feige – he’s been doing it for years.
Take the Russo Brothers, for example. The directing pair has helmed some of the MCU’s most important titles, including Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, despite not having much feature-film experience before-hand. Remarkably, the duo was invited to work with Marvel following their work on the Community ‘Paintball’ episodes (another TV show created by Dan Harmon). Feige reportedly thought the episodes showed a real grasp of both action and comedy, and gave the Russos the reins of some of the MCU’s biggest movies; from Community to Rick and Morty, Feige seems to have a habit of liking a TV show and then inviting that talent to work with him. With over 70 more episodes of Rick and Morty commissioned, he’s in luck: there will be lots more opportunities for talent to catch his eye.
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