President Curtis, Rick and Morty Spin-off, Debuts on HBO Max

With ten episodes planned and a second season already ordered, President Curtis arrived on HBO Max on July 27 as the latest Rick and Morty spin-off. The first episode is now streaming.

The show follows André Curtis as he deals with problems and crises that Rick Sanchez usually ignores. His work is supported by chief of staff Ro Banks and special agent Francis O'Doyle, while the story ranges from interdimensional diplomacy and cryptid hunting to paranormal anomalies.

Early reactions have been mixed in tone but strong in numbers. The series currently holds 100% approval on Rotten Tomatoes based on five reviews, while Metacritic lists it at 67 out of 100 based on four reviews. Critics described it as funny, absurd, and stupid in a good way, though they also said it does not quite reach the level of Rick and Morty.

The cast includes Keith David in the lead, with Stephanie Beatriz and Jim Rash also joining the voice cast. That lineup gives the show a familiar animated-TV feel, even as it centers on the president rather than Rick Sanchez.

HBO Max and Adult Swim had already renewed the show for a second season before the first season premiered. Production on the new episodes has already started, so the series is set to continue even before viewers have finished the debut run.

Meanwhile, it’s worth noting that a full-length animated Rick and Morty movie is currently in the works. Jacob Hair, a franchise veteran who directed standout episodes like "The Vat of Acid Episode" and "Rickmurai Jack," is set to direct.

Do pre-premiere renewals make you more confident in President Curtis, or do they raise the stakes too early?