The Hulu sci-fi comedy’s Emmy Award-winning supervising producer discusses the new season, including more mayhem in The Wall, new Silvercops adventures, and actor Dan Stevens replacing Justin Roiland, the show’s co-creator, as the voice of Korvo; all-new episodes debut today, August 14.
With today’s return of everyone’s favorite 2D animated alien… family?, Hulu brings a needed bit of wild-eyed levity to the animation community, as well as animation fans everywhere. With the streamer’s Solar Opposite’s 11-episode Season 4 debut, audiences can expect more classic Solar chaos including mayhem in The Wall and some all-new Silvercops adventures. And a brand-new Korvo, now voiced by actor Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey), taking over the role from series co-creator Justin Roiland, who was dropped from the show this past January in the wake of domestic violence charges that were eventually dismissed.
The brainchild of Rick and Morty co-creator Roiland and Mike McMahan, creator of Star Trek: Lower Decks, Solar Opposites centers around a team of four aliens – the Shlorpian family – who crash land on Earth. Zany fun (for viewers, not their hapless human targets) ensues as they negotiate the variegated charms of Middle America, with often raucous and chaotic results. Evenly split on whether Earth is awful or awesome are Korvo (Stevens) and Yumyulack (Sean Giambrone), who only see pollution, crass consumerism, and human frailty, and Terry (Thomas Middleditch) and Jesse (Mary Mack), who love TV, junk food, and fun stuff. Oh, and they also keep a bunch of miniaturized humans imprisoned in a wall-size terrarium, where many amusing things happen.
The show is executive produced by McMahan and Josh Bycel and produced by 20th Television Animation. Sydney Ryan serves as a supervising producer, working closely with the writers, animators, voice talent, and post-production team, among other duties. An Emmy Award-winning producer on Rick and Morty, Ryan has worked on Solar from the start, and as the supervising producer, is involved in every aspect of the show - from development to final delivery.
AWN recently had a chance to discuss Season 4 with Ryan, including Korvo’s recasting, how the show has been impacted by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, and what shenanigans we can expect in The Wall.
AWN: What’s in store in the new season – what can you share? What were you able to put into Season 4 that you couldn’t on previous seasons?
Sydney Ryan: Oooh, good question! I love Seasons 1-3, but I think Season 4 is our strongest season yet! I know fans are going to be itching to find out what’s going on in The Wall, so I’ll say that the writers give The Wall a theme every season and they had a lot of fun doing a cold war spy story this year. Some time has passed since we were last in The Wall and it has separated into two sides, religious and secular, with a Berlin Wall type wall-in-the-wall that literally divides The Wall. Also, Cherie’s daughter, Pezlie, was taken at the end of last season, so she’s determined to get her back and we know she won’t go down without a fight.
We’ll also revisit the Silvercops this season and follow Glen, who the Solar’s shot into space in Season 3. The Silvercops are trying to frame him for murder, and he’s naked and terrified while on the run on an alien planet.
The writers really bring the family together more this season and I think the fans are going to enjoy the insane adventures that they get to go on. Also, Korvo and Terry’s love really blossoms, and it’s been rewarding to see their relationship grow. They’re teammates, but they’re also partners. I think they make the cutest couple.
AWN: Has the animation production process changed much since last season and if so, how? Have things gotten easier / faster / more manageable?
SR: I have an awesome production team on Solar and we’ve been able to streamline our process over the last few seasons, so each department can work as efficiently as possible. This has helped us to tackle these bigger episodes from the writers AND have them look beautiful! We’re always looking for ways to improve and fine-tune how we make the show.
AWN: Any appreciable change in how the season was written / designed / directed compared to Season 3? What was learned in the first 3 seasons that helped in Season 4’s production?
SR: A lot of our crew have been on the show since Season 1, so everyone is growing and learning more each year. Solar is a real team effort and open communication between the departments and crew has been vital in helping us build this show up. The one big change that I can think of was that we were able to start mixing the show in-person again, which really helps to cement the final product better.
AWN: Did you ever think The Wall would become such an incredibly popular arc of the show? To what do you attribute it’s almost cult-like status among fans?
SR: Mike McMahan was really excited about The Wall arc since before we started the show and I remember thinking what a crazy, fun idea it was. It really exceeded my expectations when it all came together. What the writers have done with The Wall is so unique and getting to watch the drama evolve each season is really gratifying. The earnestness of The Wall plays so well against the Solar’s doing ridiculous, comical things. I know fans are split between loving the alien stories more or The Wall more, but the mix of them together is what makes Solar Opposites and The Wall so great.
AWN: What can you share regarding the recasting of Justin Roiland with Dan Stevens? How did you direct him in the role – what new does he bring to the role?
SR: Solar is a goofy sci-fi show with these aliens who have ray guns that can do anything, so it just felt right for us to make a big swing and completely change the sound of the character while maintaining the humor and keeping the emotional qualities intact. Korvo’s a complicated character because he’s terse and pissed all the time, but you still love him - he’s still a part of the family. We worked with our excellent casting team and cast a wide net for the role, listened to a TON of auditions and met with some really talented actors. Marci Proietto [Executive Vice President and Head of 20th Television Animation] recommended Dan because she was a fan from having worked with him on another show. Dan was down to audition via a producer’s session and as soon as he did, we instantly knew he was the one. Mike was able to direct Dan for Season 4 before the strike started and they had a great rapport right off the bat. Dan’s hilarious, charming, he loves the show, AND he’s a phenomenal actor. We’re so happy to be working with him!
AWN: What were the big challenges for you this season?
SR: Honestly, when we found out that Korvo was going to be recast, we had already animated and finished most of the season. As the producer, it was a huge undertaking, but we were able to cast and record Dan, reanimate scenes, adjust all Korvo’s lip sync, and deliver the show so that we were still able to air in the summer. We were so lucky to find Dan and thankful that he was able to come in and knock it out of the park. We recorded his lines as Korvo in less than a month and our post-production team did an amazing job getting everything done and delivered.
AWN: Hopefully, the strike is settled soon so folks can get back to work. Where will you take the show next once back at it?
SR: I do have to start by saying that I am so thankful for our incredible WGA writers and SAG-AFTRA actors on Solar and I wholly support them in their fight for fair wages.
Solar was lucky that our writers wrapped Season 5 in March, so our TAG/ IATSE crew has been able to continue working. I can’t wait for everyone to see what’s in store in Season 5. First up, Season 4 is wildly fun, and everyone should go watch it on Hulu August 14th!
Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.
