Fans may have missed that slight clue at the end of the season 3 finale of “Rick and Morty” about the show’s return on screen. In the end-credits, Mr. Poopybutthole said a few cryptic words that hinted at the series’ return around Christmas time but didn't really give a clue as to what year he was referring to.

Season 3 post-credits scene recap

Mr. Poopybutthole returned in the end-credits scene to announce that the series may not return for a “really long time.” He stressed the length of time with comparisons to the changes that would happen to his body during the long wait.

He said that he “might even have a big white Santa Claus beard and a couple of grandkids” already by the time that Season 4 airs.

Season 4 release date

So when can we expect to see the installment on screen? Adult Swim has yet to announce an exact release date for Season 4. Showrunner Dan Harmon also did not give an estimate on the release in a previous interview. However, Mr. Poopybutthole mentioned the word Santa Claus, which according to Mashable, could be cryptic of the installment’s release in December 2018. There is usually a time gap of 18 months per release of the new season. Season 2 aired on July 26, 2015, and Harmon surprised fans with the Season 3 premiere on April 1, 2017. The rest of the season commenced on July 30.

The release of Season 4 in Christmas 2018 would fit in neatly with the timeline.

Is Mr. Poopybutthole is a credible source?

This is not the first time that the showrunners used Mr. Poopybutthole to tease fans about the return of the show.

At the end-credits scene of Season 2, he mentioned that Season 3 would return “in a year and a half or longer.” Adult Swim kept his promise with the premiere release on April Fool’s Day. Regardless, we do not have a definite answer yet on when the show will return.

Season 4 episodes

Dan Harmon said he wants to do 14 episodes for “Rick and Morty” Season 4, which was the original plan for Season 3.

However, he wants to do ten episodes first to prove to himself, to the writers and the network that it easy to do. Then they can do the remaining four episodes afterward. He thinks that this would be a healthy approach to making the installment.

Plot and stories

Harmon revealed that they already have stories lined up for Season 4 and one is inspired by the film “Jumanji.” In this story, Rick and Morty get absorbed into a book that a young Jerry wrote. Harmon said that this was supposed to be the idea for the Season 3 premiere, instead of the “Mad Max” themed episode.
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