‘President Curtis’ Creator Dan Harmon on Trump, Obama Influencing Show and His Vision for ‘Rick and Morty’ Movie
Adult Swim has launched *President Curtis*, a spinoff of *Rick and Morty* centred on Keith David's Commander-in-Chief character, which premiered following the flagship show's season nine finale. Co-creators Dan Harmon and James Siciliano told The Hollywood Reporter that the series draws on qualities of real and past US presidents, including Donald Trump and Barack Obama, to shape its fictional leader, reflecting how the show blends political satire with the franchise's sci-fi absurdism. Its debut matters as it expands the Rick and Morty universe into a standalone format while the flagship series continues.
President Curtis, played by David since a 2015 season two episode, is joined by co-stars Stephanie Beatriz and Jim Rash as he navigates unusual crises with his staff. Harmon said the character blends Trump's outsider naivety with Obama's charm, alongside "legendary aspects" of historical presidents, aiming for a "fantasy president, warts and all". Rick and Morty appear in the pilot but not again in season one, and Adult Swim has already renewed the show for a second season, announced at San Diego Comic-Con.
In short
- Adult Swim's Rick and Morty spinoff President Curtis has premiered
- Creators say Trump and Obama influenced the fictional president's character
- Show renewed for a second season after Comic-Con announcement
Explained simply
Rick and Morty is an animated comedy that has run since 2013, following a genius scientist and his grandson through surreal sci-fi adventures across multiple universes. The show is known for combining imaginative concepts with satirical commentary on society and politics.
President Curtis is a new spinoff series centred on a fictional American president, a character who first appeared in Rick and Morty in 2015 and is played by actor Keith David. The character was developed drawing on qualities of various real-world presidents, and the series follows him as he navigates unusual crises with his government staff.
The spinoff represents an expansion of the Rick and Morty universe into a standalone series, allowing the franchise to develop stories around supporting characters. This approach has become increasingly common for animated shows with large audiences, as networks create additional content within established fictional worlds whilst the original series continues.
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