'Solar Opposites' previews the beginning of the end of the Justin Roiland era

How will 'Rick and Morty' handle recasting its characters? PLUS: Trailers for Zendaya's 'Challengers,' 'Dumb Money' and 'Kraven,' and will the Oscars honor stunt work?

A scene from the Solar Opposites Season 4 promo. / Hulu

Believe it or not, this is the final edition of Popculturology until July. Not only are we in the final days of June, but I’ll be taking a break from the newsletter through Independence Day.

I’m going to miss seeing Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny its opening night and passing my thoughts along to you, but if you see it next week, feel free to shoot me a message on Twitter or Bluesky letting me no what you thought! (No spoilers, though …)

Who’s watched the first episode of Secret Invasion? I haven’t had the chance yet, but I’m fully in the loop when it comes to Marvel’s baffling decision to use AI to create the show’s opening credits. What an absolute slap in the face to not only all the real artists and special effects houses out there who do that kind of thing for a living but also the artists working on the comics side of Marvel over at Disney.

There’s no justification for using AI instead of real artists. I don’t even want to hear the strained logic that a show about Skrulls should have a title sequence created by nonhumans. As Decider’s Sean T. Collins notes, “this is like saying that since The Sopranos is about gangsters, it would have been okay for James Gandolfini to murder someone on camera to ‘Woke Up This Morning.’”

Ditch this title sequence before the second episode airs, Marvel.

We’ve also been keeping up with Platonic, which continues to be a fun reunion between Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen.

And I hope you’re watching the new season of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The first few episodes so far have been on a new creative level.

Once again, Popculturology will be on vacation until the Friday, July 7 edition hits your inboxes.

Once I’m back, please consider becoming a paid Popculturology subscriber. For $5 a month or $50 a year, this subscription brings you the two weekly editions of the newsletter plus Deep SNL Thoughts and The Box Office Report.

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• Feature Presentation: Dan Stevens joins Solar Opposites

• Bonus Features: Will the Oscars honor stunts?

• The News: IMAX battle, Gal Gadot teases Wonder Woman

• Trailer Watch: Challengers, Dumb Money, The Beanie Bubble, Kraven the Hunter, 3 Body Problem

• Playlist: The Righteous Gemstones

• What to Watch: The Bear

• Snack Break: I have consumed the Grimace

• Odds and Ends: Jury Duty’s Margaritaville shoot

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The Solar Opposites opening scene. / Hulu

Dan Stevens kicks off recasting of Justin Roiland characters

The end of the Justin Roiland era has begun. Hulu revealed earlier this week that Dan Stevens had replaced Roiland as the voice of Korvo on Solar Opposites. The Hollywood Reporter got the exclusive, sharing the first clip featuring the Downton Abbey star.

I love the comment that because of “chronotons,” Korvo will sound like Stevens in flashbacks.