Adult Swim is removing the cult-favourite series Metalocalypse from its broadcast schedule this summer, marking a significant shift for a channel that has long served as a home for adult animation, including Rick and Morty, Primal and Aqua Teen Hunger Force. The animated series, which follows the fictional death metal band Dethklok as it rises to become a global economic power, is known for blending black comedy with graphic violence. Its departure strips Adult Swim of a title that helped define its identity, even as the move may free up space for newer programming.

The timing is notable, as 2026 marks Metalocalypse's 20th anniversary, yet there has been no announcement of a special or revival to mark the occasion, unlike other long-running animated shows such as King of the Hill and Futurama. Co-creator Brendon Small has kept the franchise alive in other ways, including the 2013 special Metalocalypse: The Doomstar Requiem, the 2023 film Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar, and a real-life Dethklok band that continues to tour. The series is also not currently available to stream on HBO Max, leaving fans reliant on physical box sets to revisit it.