Solar Opposites Producer Sydney Ryan reveals what she is most excited for fans to see in season 4, as well as bringing Dan Stevens in as Korvo.
Solar Opposites is back for its fourth season, which drops on Hulu on August 14th! The entire series has been great, but this is the funniest season yet. It integrates the side storylines in a way that keeps the pace moving, and the jokes flowing.
Mama’s Geeky caught up with Solar Opposites supervising producer Sydney Ryan to talk about season 4. She reveals what she is excited for fans to see, her favorite episode, and bringing Dan Stevens in as the new voice of Korvo.
Note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Solar Opposites would not exist without the labor of the writers and actors in both unions.
Sydney Ryan Talks Solar Opposites Season 4
Mama’s Geeky: What was it about Solar Opposites that drew you to want to be a part of it?
Sydney Ryan: I’ve been working with Mike McMahan since season one of Rick and Morty and as soon as I heard he was going to make a pilot for a show he co-created, I jumped at the chance to work on it with him. He’d been talking about this idea for a couple of years, and I was so excited to see it come to life. Solar Opposites is a show full of joy and silliness and drama and I am just so honored to a be a part of it.
Mama’s Geeky: This cast is amazing, can you talk about bringing them all on?
Sydney Ryan: We held producer’s sessions for the pilot and auditioned a lot of great actors, but Sean Giambrone and Mary Mack were instantly perfect for the show, and we knew we’d found our Yumyulack and Jesse – Mike said their normal voices literally sound like aliens to him. They’re both such unique actors and what they bring to their characters is just so fun and exciting. I personally love their voices and feel like they kind of sound like cartoon characters in real life.
Mike knew he wanted Thomas Middleditch before we started casting because he had just directed him in a season 3 episode of Rick and Morty, and his improvisational skills were off the chart – he had us cracking up with every line.
When we started looking for a new Korvo, we knew that we wanted to make a big swing and totally change the sound of the character. We listened to a lot of auditions and met with some amazing actors – it was Marci Proietto (Executive Vice President and Head of 20th Television Animation) who recommended Dan Stevens. Which was fortunate, because Dan is hilarious, charming, and a phenomenal actor. We feel extremely lucky to have him on the show.
Mama’s Geeky: Speaking of the cast, do they ever get to improvise their lines while recording? Has it seemed like over the years they are more confident in their roles to do so?
Sydney Ryan: We love when our cast adds to the script! Now that we’ve been doing the show for a few years they really know their roles and are able to throw adlibs in at the end of lines that really fit the characters. I think it really helps the show to play weirder and more surprising. All our cast has a lot of fun with improvising, and we try to use as much of it as possible.
Mama’s Geeky: What are you most excited for fans to see in the upcoming season?
Sydney Ryan: Good question! I love Seasons 1-3, but Season 4 is our strongest yet! The writers give The Wall a theme every season and they had a lot of fun doing a cold war spy story this year. The Wall has been separated into two sides, religious and secular, with a Berlin wall-in-the-wall that divides The Wall in half. Cherie’s daughter, Pezlie, was taken at the end of last season, so she’s determined to get her back!
The writers really bring the Solar family together more this season, I think the fans are going to enjoy the insane adventures that they go on. Korvo and Terry’s love really blossoms and it’s nice to see their relationship grow. They’re teammates but they’re also partners and I think they make the most adorable couple!
Mama’s Geeky: I know it is hard to choose, but do you have a favorite episode?
Sydney Ryan: It is extremely difficult to choose a favorite episode because I have more than one, but I’d have to say Episode 410 “The Re-Visibility Bouillabaisse” is my favorite right now. It’s a weird one, but I think it’s the funniest episode that we’ve ever made, and it has a lot of heart. I’ve seen “The Re-Visibility Bouillabaisse” probably 100 times and I crack up every time I watch it. It has the silliest plot and Dan and Thomas’ performances really make the episode special.
Mama’s Geeky: Has there ever been a joke or scene that you had to cut that you wish made it into the episode?
Sydney Ryan: I remember when we were editing Season 3, there was a joke that Josh Bycel and Mike wanted to cut, but I begged them not to because it makes me laugh every single time – it’s just a turn of phrase in Episode 306 “99 Ships” of Jesse saying, “Better keep my name outta yo mouth, bitch.” It sounds crass all by itself, but in context, it’s just so funny to me. As we worked on the episode, Mike would ALWAYS point out that I made him keep it in even though it never felt right to him and that it was my joke now. But you know what, it still makes me laugh! Mary Mack is just so funny, I love when she talks smack!
NEXT: Solar Opposites Season 4 Review: Dan Stevens Fits Right In
About Solar Opposites Season 4
Solar Opposites centers around a team of four aliens who are evenly split on whether Earth is awful or awesome. Korvo (Dan Stevens) and Yumyulack (Sean Giambrone) only see the pollution, crass consumerism, and human frailty while Terry (Thomas Middleditch) and Jesse (Mary Mack) love TV, junk food and fun stuff.
“Solar Opposites” is executive produced by Mike McMahan and Josh Bycel. The series is produced by 20th Television Animation.
Solar Opposites Season 4 drops on Hulu in its entirety on August 14th.
