Adult Swim has renewed its upcoming Rick and Morty spinoff, President Curtis, for a second season prior to its July 26 premiere. The announcement was made during a San Diego Comic-Con panel attended by co-creators Dan Harmon and James Siciliano, alongside stars Keith David, Stephanie Beatriz, and Jim Rash.
"President Curtis quickly proved himself worthy of another term!" stated Adult Swim president Michael Ouweleen. He added that Keith David's performance and the creative efforts of the show team made the series "what the people need more of."
The series, which has been in development since 2021, follows President Andre Curtis (David) as he defends the United States from a range of unusual threats, including alien invaders, an ancient witch, and French super soldiers. Co-creator Dan Harmon described the show's scope as more akin to The X-Files than Doctor Who, focusing on detailed terrestrial threats. "Everything's taking place on Earth, but there is so much to experience on Earth," Harmon explained.
Similar to how Rick and Morty balances standalone episodes with those that advance its multiverse narrative, President Curtis will explore character backstories. The first season will delve into the origins of Curtis' chief of staff Banks (Beatriz) becoming a cyborg and Special Agent O’Doyle’s (Rash) troubled relationship with his leprechaun mother. These storylines are intended to introduce villains and plot threads that will carry over into subsequent seasons.
"One thing you can say about President Curtis is there's never a dull moment around him," said David. "I love the fact that you get to also explore some of the personal things outside of the office and see how it then influences what goes on in the office."
President Curtis is set to premiere on Adult Swim on Sunday night and will be available to stream on HBO Max the following morning.