SPOILER ALERT: This text includes key plot revelations and spoilers from “Rick and Morty” Season 8, Episode 7, titled “Ricker Than Fiction,” which premiered on Sunday, July 6, on Grownup Swim.

In a surprising twist, DC Studios CEO James Gunn and acclaimed director Zack Snyder made memorable guest appearances in this week’s episode of “Rick and Morty.” They lent their voices to exaggerated versions of themselves, bringing a unique flavor to the show that fans of both franchises will appreciate.

“They were incredibly good sports,” commented Scott Marder, the executive producer of “Rick and Morty.” “Both of these talented filmmakers seemed to suggest that this is the show they tune into during their downtime. They were genuinely excited to be part of the experience, displaying no reluctance or discomfort. Instead, they laughed heartily at everything we pitched to them. Honestly, there could have been even more playful jabs and absurdities we could have included, but their reaction was simply to enjoy the humor.”

James Gunn takes on a villainous role in Season 8, Episode 7, “Ricker Than Fiction.” Written by Rob Schrab, the episode begins with Rick and Morty expressing dissatisfaction with the creative direction of their beloved film series, “Most Velocitree.” In their quest for resolution, they venture to the Warner Bros. studio lot, where they confront Gunn, the director and producer of “Most Velocitree.” Displeased with Gunn’s response, they utilize Rick’s invention called the “Film-lizer” to rewrite the franchise in their own vision.

While in the cafeteria at Warner Bros., Gunn encounters a muscular Snyder. Amid playful banter about Superman (“I just saw your new cut of ‘Superman,’” Snyder quips, “and here’s a piece of advice: he’s the ‘Man of Steel,’ not the ‘Man of Dialogue.’ More shots of him delivering punches!”), Snyder shares his thoughts on Rick Sanchez: “That guy trapped Christopher Nolan in a huge bookcase to punish him for ‘Interstellar.’ He doesn’t represent true fans. He’s merely the smartest individual in the universe. Don’t worry. He can’t do what we do. Probably.”

In a twist of fate, Rick and Morty — with a little help from Jerry — successfully craft a superior conclusion. They become new villains in the “Most Velocitree” universe after being sucked into the Film-lizer. Upon their demise in the film, Gunn tearfully exclaims: “They did it! What an ending! They outshone the Gunn!”

Afterward, Rick and Morty manage to navigate back to reality, but Gunn seizes the hard drive of the Film-lizer and presents it to Warner Bros. He tells “Mr. Brothers”: “They cracked the code! This isn’t just about filling seats and selling popcorn; it has the potential to inspire hope! It could save Hollywood and transform everything.” Warner Bros. is impressed and instructs his henchman: “Give this man a sundae!” However, Gunn meets a tragic fate at the hands of a weapon dubbed “Sundae.”

“I’m thrilled for the fans to experience this episode,” expressed Marder. “I feel like they have an insatiable appetite for classic ‘Rick and Morty’ episodes—those that are fun, standalone adventures. This one certainly ticks that box in a significant way, while also delivering unexpected twists and surprises.”

The concept of the Film-lizer had been circulating in the writers’ room for a considerable time, as Marder noted. Initially, it was called the “Book-alizer,” centered around Jerry penning a novel. The idea eventually evolved into a film-related narrative. “Most Velocitree” was conceived as a playful nod to the Transformers and Fast and Furious franchises.

“We thought if we were going to create a film and critique Hollywood, we needed to incorporate our powers that be,” he explained. “Thus, we began to contemplate Warner Bros. and who would serve as an ideal antagonist here. James Gunn seemed like a perfect fit. We were all pretty confident that whenever Schrab reached out to Gunn, he would be knee-deep in ‘Superman.’ However, he not only responded promptly with a yes, but I believe he escalated it up the chain at Warner Bros. the very same day. We had folks on our production side wondering, ‘How is it that James Gunn and Zaslav and all these people already know about this episode?’ We didn’t expect it to move this quickly.”

According to Marder, Gunn even made certain to find time to record his lines for “Rick and Morty” just after wrapping principal photography on “Superman.”

“I think Gunn reached out to ensure that this would not interfere with anything. It seemed like he got the green light pretty quickly,” Marder stated. “Both of them came in and were incredibly good sports. As a proud nerd, I idolize both of these talented individuals. They possess creative freedom that few people in Hollywood enjoy, allowing them to take bold risks.”

Co-creator Dan Harmon was equally enthusiastic about the prospect of both Gunn and Snyder participating, and he contributed to writing the witty “Superman” dialogue exchanged between the two. “When he learned they were on board and coming in, he cracked his knuckles, wanting to ensure that the episode met their standards and was worthy of their involvement,” Marder added.

Gunn and Snyder recorded their dialogue back-to-back and took a photo together that quickly went viral online. Fortunately for the show, which aimed to keep their cameos under wraps, no one caught on to the fact that they had met because of “Rick and Morty.”

“I appreciate that we managed to keep this under wraps until now,” Marder remarked. “Our secrecy is quite tight; we are vigilant about anything that goes public because fans scrutinize every detail, similar to examining a film frame by frame or through a jeweler’s loupe.”

The plot of “Ricker Than Fiction” also featured a meta-narrative, focusing on the fan discourse surrounding popular franchises, sequels, and enduring intellectual properties like both “Superman” and “Rick and Morty.”

“It certainly presents a unique challenge to have such a dedicated audience,” Marder shared. “This theme felt very natural within the episode. You constantly hear how everyone believes they could do it better, and how simple it seems. Rick and Morty think they can create a superior film. They are handed the keys to the kingdom, but it’s not as straightforward as it appears. Writing is incredibly challenging. It’s much easier to sit on your couch and critique than to undertake the immense effort of creating something yourself. This was the essence we aimed to capture in a fun, lively, and dynamic manner in this episode, without coming across as preachy.”

At the episode’s conclusion, Gunn is shot, but who knows? He could always make a return now that he’s part of the “Rick and Morty” universe. As for Snyder, the filmmaker is such a devoted fan that he immediately expressed interest in doing more.

“I direct all of the voice actors, so I had the pleasure of directing both of these talented individuals. After recording, Snyder left only to return as a fan, saying, ‘I’ll do anything for the show. Just give me a tag or a line,’” Marder shared. “It was genuinely exciting to hear such enthusiasm from him.”

So, how about a “Snyder cut” of “Ricker Than Fiction”?

“That would be fantastic,” Marder responded. “I do enjoy a good Snyder cut!”