Rick And Morty Fans' Casting For A Live-Action Rick Makes Too Much Sense
"Rick and Morty" wouldn't be the same without the genius inventing skills of Rick Sanchez (Justin Roiland). These talents allow him and his grandson to embark on all manner of wacky misadventures. For many viewers, Rick's distinct personality is one of the many reasons the show is so intriguing. His intellect makes him one of a kind (except for all those other Ricks running around the multiverse), while at the same time rendering him apathetic to the generic plights of humanity. On paper, Rick is a cynical alcoholic with a tendency for single-minded selfishness who frequently puts his loved ones in harm's way. However, underneath his excessive burping, Rick is a complex anti-hero who will surely do anything to protect his family.
The show's unique animation style, which allows the narrative to explore unhindered by the dynamics of reality, makes it difficult to imagine what "Rick and Morty" would be like as a live-action series. Of course, it's always fun to visualize what your favorite animated characters would be like if they were reimagined with real actors, although bringing Rick to life would take someone exceedingly skilled at deadpan line delivery and a knack for memorizing a deluge of scientific jargon. While it might seem a daunting task to find such a thespian, as it turns out, fans already know the perfect actor for the job.
House star Hugh Laurie would make the perfect live-action Rick
"Rick and Morty" fans have tapped Hugh Laurie to play the titular mad scientist in the event of a live-action remake. Laurie has had a long and storied career in the entertainment industry, showcasing his acting prowess in a wide range of movies and television shows.
While he's known for his roles in "Stuart Little," "Sense and Sensibility," "Veep," and the British period comedy series "Blackadder," most people probably recognize him as the star of the medical drama "House." Laurie portrayed Dr. Gregory House for the duration of the series' run, joining the ranks of famous TV doctors with his characteristic disregard for common etiquette, remarkable reasoning skills, and substance abuse issues. Sound like anyone else you know?
"Rick and Morty" fans on Reddit evidently think that Laurie's performance as Dr. House makes him the perfect candidate to play Rick. "He could definitely nail the physicality of Rick," wrote u/rophel. Similarly, u/SeroWriter joked, "[Laurie] faked a limp for 10 years, he can probably fake a burp."
Fans also appear to believe that Laurie's comedic talents would be well suited to Rick's particular brand of absurdity. "Silly gags and low-brow humor, right alongside really clever, clearly workshopped comedy," u/BelgarathTheSorcerer wrote. "I bet the guy could easily get into the gross side of Rick, because he'd see the humor!"
Even though a live-action version of the show isn't currently in the works, it's certainly noteworthy to see such interesting fan speculation about bizarre "Rick and Morty" fan theories. In 2021, Christopher Lloyd and Jaeden Martell brought live-action versions of the characters to life in short promos for the Season 5 finale (via Rolling Stone).