‘Rick and Morty’ Boss Explains How James Gunn and Zack Snyder Agreed to Parody Themselves and Their Rival ‘Superman’ Versions

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This past episode of “Rick and Morty” showcased some unexpected cameos – the CEO of DC Studios, James Gunn, and director Zack Snyder. They provided their voices for over-the-top portrayals of themselves, displaying a playful, humorous side.

Scott Marder, the executive producer of “Rick and Morty”, shared that both Ryan Reynolds and Zack Snyder seemed genuinely excited about their involvement in the show. They seemed to enjoy being a part of the “Rick and Morty” universe, without any resistance or defensiveness. In fact, they found everything amusing that was presented to them. Marder added that there were likely more jokes they could have included, but Reynolds and Snyder took it all in stride with laughter.

In the episode titled “Ricker Than Fiction,” which falls under Season 8, Episode 7, James Gunn assumes the role of a villain. The narrative kicks off with Rick and Morty expressing displeasure over how their beloved movie series, known as Maximum Velocitree, is being managed.

They visit the Warner Bros. studio to converse with Gunn, the filmmaker who oversees the production of that fictional movie series. If Gunn’s responses are unsatisfactory, Rick employs a tool called the “Movie-lizer” to rework the franchise according to their own vision instead.

In the Warner Bros. cafeteria, there’s a humorous encounter between James Gunn and muscular Zack Snyder. Snyder playfully teases Gunn about his Superman movie, commenting, “I just watched your latest cut of ‘Superman,’ and here’s some advice: He’s the ‘Man of Steel,’ not the ‘Man of Chat.’ Show more scenes of him delivering punches!” Later on, Snyder discusses Rick Sanchez with Gunn, stating that Rick is renowned as the smartest man in the universe. However, he emphasizes that Rick doesn’t accurately depict typical fans.

In due course, Rick, Morty, and Jerry find themselves drawn into the Movie-maker, assuming the roles of antagonists in the film “Maximum Velocitree”. As their onscreen characters meet their demise, Gunn expresses his emotions by saying, “They’ve done it! What a climax! They surpassed even me!

Following the story’s conclusion, Gunn carries the Movie-lizer’s hard drive to Warner Bros., explaining that it could revolutionize Hollywood. The boss approves and exclaims, “Treat this man to an ice cream sundae!“. However, in a humorous turn of events, Gunn is fatally shot by a gun named “Sundae”.

Scott Marder expressed his eagerness for fans to watch this upcoming episode, as he believes it embodies the traditional fun of Rick and Morty while also offering some delightful surprises. The concept of the Movie-lizer originated in the writers’ room initially, with plans to name it “Book-alizer” based on Jerry writing a book. However, they eventually decided to change it to movies instead. The fictional Maximum Velocitree is a tribute to franchises such as Transformers and Fast and Furious.

Marder shared that when it came to mocking Hollywood, they wanted to involve their superiors, leading them to consider Warner Bros. as a target. James Gunn was an ideal candidate to portray the antagonist in this scenario. Marder mentioned they had assumed Gunn would be occupied with Superman but were taken aback when he promptly agreed and managed to secure approval from Warner Bros swiftly. Remarkably, Gunn even recorded his lines the day after wrapping up principal photography on Superman.

As a movie critic, I’d put it this way: “I believe James Gunn carefully assembled his team to ensure a smooth production, and it seemed like he received the go-ahead rather swiftly. Working with both Gunn and Snyder was an absolute pleasure, and I couldn’t help but feel fortunate to have such esteemed professionals on our set.

Dan Harmon, who co-created “Rick and Morty”, contributed to the humorous Superman dialogue between Gunn and Snyder. According to Marder, Harmon was eager to ensure the episode met expectations given their involvement. Gunn and Sdynder recorded their parts sequentially, even taking a photo that gained widespread popularity, but the show successfully kept their cameos under wraps until now.

The show additionally explores the topic of passionate discussions among fans regarding iconic franchises, sequels, and enduring series such as Superman and Rick and Morty. Marder commented, “Writing is incredibly challenging. It’s much simpler to critique something from your couch than to undertake the difficult task of creating it yourself.” The episode illustrates that crafting a superior film isn’t as straightforward as it may seem for Rick and Morty.

Despite Gunn’s character being shot at the end, there’s a possibility he might reappear as he’s now part of the Rick and Morty universe. Snyder had such a great time on the series that he requested to take part in more episodes. Marder stated, “I direct all the voices, so I directed both those guys. Snyder initially left, but then returned like an enthusiastic fan, saying, ‘I’ll do whatever for the show. Just give me a cameo or a small role.’

As a movie enthusiast, I was recently queried about the possibility of a Snyder version of this particular episode. With a grin, I responded, “Now that’s intriguing! Honestly, I’m quite partial to a well-crafted Snyder cut!

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2025-07-07 10:19