'Rick & Morty' season 3 release date, spoilers news 2016: Series premiering before yearend? What to expect from upcoming installment

Are Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland trying to build hype about "Rick and Morty" season 3, hence the lack of updates about the animated series? It certainly looks that way, although they have insisted that the show might come out sooner than they thought.

To date, the AdultSwim network still hasn't disclosed an official air date for the hit animated series. Season 2 ended in October 2015, and in it, Mr. Poopy Butthole revealed that the series will return a year and a half later. Counting literal days, that will mean around Spring of 2017.

However, at the Magic City Comic Con earlier this year, Harmon said "Rick and Morty" season 3 will most likely premiere before 2016 ends.

"I think Season 3 is—we're targeting around the end of this year," he said, adding, "You guys do realize we're at the beginning of this year?"

The co-creators have admitted that it's more challenging to create season 3, as they want to make sure their giving fans and viewers their just desserts. In an interview with Den of Geek, they said they "hired a bunch of new writers" as there "was a craving for a gender balance in the writers' room that we had never had." It could be that the influx of new writers has slightly affected the production of season 3.

With three months left before 2016 ends, fans are playing the guessing game as far as the actual release date goes. AdultSwim is keeping mum about this bit of information, so if 2016 ends with nary a shadow of "Rick and Morty" season 3, then perhaps it's target launch will be early 2017.

As to what's in store for viewers when the series returns, it seems almost everything found online are based on fan theories and speculations. For instance, there's a theory stating that Evil Morty is actually Rick from the other dimension. Another one says that Krombopulos Michael will be brought back to life to save Rick, who at the end of season 2, was incarcerated at the Galactic Federation jail.

There are even rumors that Morty's parents, Beth and Jerry will finalize their divorce in season 3. Apparently, Beth will be given her own arc in the upcoming installment focusing on her growth as a person.

In the meantime, keep coming back as more news and updates are expected to arrive soon.