The Rick and Morty spinoff The Vindicators is in production; here's everything we know about the short animated series from Adult Swim.
Adult Swim has ordered the first official spinoff of Rick and Morty: a short series titled The Vindicators. The short series is expected to be released via a digital platform and will consist of 8 - 10 episodes of undetermined length. Here's everything we know about the upcoming Rick and Morty spinoff.
Adult Swim announced in May 2021 that it was producing four digital short series that are spinoffs of some of its biggest hits: Rick and Morty, Robot Chicken, Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell and Aqua Teen Hunger Force. The Vindicators will take the titular heroes, who were previously introduced in Rick and Morty season 3, and follow their adventures — without the help of a certain mad scientist and his teenage sidekick.
While details are slim at this stage in production, the Adult Swim announcement provided enough information to give an idea of what viewers should expect from The Vindicators. Fans of Rick and Morty can expect stories with the same absurd, metafictional humor — but with a new character dynamic, thanks to a change in formula.
How The Vindicators Connects To Rick & Morty
The Vindicators are characters in Rick and Morty season 3, introduced in the episode "Vindicators 3: The Return of Worldender." A thinly veiled (and scathing) satire of Marvel's Avengers, as well as other superhero teams in general, these intergalactic heroes come together to save the universe from various threats. Rick (and, by extension, Morty) weren't invited to the second team-up because of "personality conflict," but this third threat, Worldender, is big enough that the team reluctantly calls Rick — that, and the previous mission led to the deaths of three Vindicators: Lady Katana, Calypso, and Diablo Verde.
In a not-so-surprising twist, Rick ends up becoming the episode's villain, having defeated Worldender while black-out drunk, then setting up a Saw-inspired trap for the Vindicators. Many of them don't survive the experience; Vance Maxiumus, Alan Rails, Million Ants and Crocubot all die, while only Supernova escapes (and the intern/janitor Noob-Noob was spared the experience).
The Vindicators Story Details
At this time, it's unclear when The Vindicators will take place in the Rick and Morty timeline. According to the Adult Swim announcement, the short series will follow "Supernova, Vance Maxiumus, Alan Rails, Crocubot and Noob Noob as they fight crime, avert genocides and yuk it up without Rick and Morty." [via THR]. Maximus, Rails, and Crocubot died in the Rick and Morty episode, which suggests The Vindicators might take place before Rick joins the team; however, this doesn't explain the absence of the other members, like Million Ants and Lady Katana. It's possible the spinoff will be some sort of Rick and Morty reboot, that Supernova somehow clones or resurrects her fallen teammates, or simply that the events take place in one of the show's many alternate universes.
The Vindicators Release Date
No official release date has been given for The Vindicators. According to reports, all four shortform series are expected to release either in late 2021 or, more likely early 2022. With Rick and Morty season 5 releasing in June 2021, fans can hopefully expect an update on the mini-spinoff by the time the next season is over.
Next: Rick & Morty: Every Major Reveal In The Season 5 Trailer
