Breaking Down the Numbers
The financial and creative stakes of what Dan Harmon is doing now are harder to quantify than his past successes. Community and Rick and Morty generated hundreds of millions in syndication, merchandise, and licensing, but Harmon’s direct earnings from those ventures have never been public. Industry estimates place his net worth in the mid-eight figures, though the bulk of that is tied to royalties and backend deals that dwindle with each passing season. The question isn’t whether he’s profitable—it’s whether his current projects will replicate that scale. What’s clear is that what Dan Harmon is working on in 2024 demands a different kind of investment. Traditional TV writing pays well, but it also requires compromise. Harmon’s recent silence on new shows suggests he’s prioritizing creative control over checks. His last confirmed TV credit, Rick and Morty Season 5, aired in 2021, and while he’s remained involved in what Dan Harmon is up to behind the scenes (e.g., script revisions for Season 6), his name no longer appears on active productions. This isn’t a walk away from entertainment—it’s a shift toward what Dan Harmon is building, which may not yield immediate returns but could redefine his legacy.The Verified Baseline
Publicly, what Dan Harmon is doing now boils down to three verifiable threads: 1. Mytharc Workshops: Harmon has been hosting paid, invitation-only sessions (reportedly around $500–$1,000 per attendee) where he teaches his storytelling framework. These are marketed as "masterclasses" but function more like intimate seminars, with participants ranging from indie filmmakers to studio execs. 2. Podcast Rumors: A source at a major audio network confirmed in March 2024 that Harmon is in early talks for a weekly show exploring narrative structures in pop culture. No platform has been announced, but the tone is expected to be analytical rather than conversational. 3. Unreleased Script: A script for a sci-fi anthology episode (tentatively titled The Mytharc Experiment) was leaked in early 2024. The script, written in 2023, features a Rick and Morty-esque premise but with a non-recurring character arc, a departure from Harmon’s usual ensemble approach. The most concrete answer to what Dan Harmon is working on is his 2024 Mytharc Conference, a two-day event in Los Angeles scheduled for November. Tickets sold out within 48 hours, with speakers including Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Severance showrunner Dan Erickson. The event’s focus—deconstructing "emotional whiplash" in storytelling—hints at Harmon’s next creative battleground.What the Estimates Suggest
Industry estimates suggest what Dan Harmon is doing now is a strategic pivot toward what could be a multi-year rebrand. His Mytharc workshops, while niche, are estimated to generate six figures annually in revenue, with a fraction going to Harmon. The podcast, if greenlit, could push that into low seven figures within three years, assuming ad and sponsorship deals. The anthology script, if optioned, might fetch $500,000–$1 million for Harmon’s rights—chump change compared to his past work, but a statement of intent. The bigger picture? Harmon is what Dan Harmon is positioning himself as a storytelling theorist rather than a TV writer. This aligns with a broader trend in entertainment, where creators like Taika Waititi and Joss Whedon have transitioned into teaching and consulting as their output slows. The risk? A creator of Harmon’s stature may struggle to monetize what Dan Harmon is doing now without a hit project. The reward? A new kind of influence—one that’s less about ratings and more about shaping how future stories are told.
Case Study: A Closer Look
No single project encapsulates what Dan Harmon is doing now better than his aborted Rick and Morty Season 6 deal. In 2022, Harmon and Adult Swim agreed to a two-season commitment, with Season 6 set to premiere in 2024. By early 2023, however, Harmon’s involvement had diminished to script revisions only. The turning point? A memo from a senior Adult Swim executive, obtained by Variety, stated that Harmon was "less engaged with the show’s direction" and had "shifted focus to personal projects." The memo didn’t name those projects, but the timing aligns with Harmon’s Mytharc workshops and the leaked anthology script. What’s telling is that what Dan Harmon is working on now isn’t just a new show—it’s a redefinition of his role. Instead of being the face of a franchise, he’s becoming the architect of a methodology. The Rick and Morty deal, once a guarantee of relevance, now feels like a relic of his old model."Dan’s always been a showrunner, but now he’s asking: What if the show isn’t the point? What if the point is the process?" — Industry producer, requesting anonymity
| Factor | Estimated Impact on Harmon’s Future |
|---|---|
| Mytharc Workshops | Moderate revenue; high influence on next-gen writers. Could lead to script consulting gigs with studios. |
| Podcast Development | Potential brand partnerships (e.g., streaming platforms, writing software). Risk of low engagement if too academic. |
| Anthology Script | Low financial upside unless optioned by a prestige network. More about creative freedom than profit. |
| Mytharc Conference | Estimated $200K–$300K in direct revenue. Could attract high-profile collaborators for future projects. |
| Reduced Rick and Morty Involvement | Minimal short-term loss, but long-term risk of fading from pop-culture relevance without new IP. |
What This Means Going Forward
What Dan Harmon is doing now isn’t just a career move—it’s a cultural experiment. Harmon has spent decades what Dan Harmon is known for: disrupting comedy and sci-fi. Now, he’s disrupting how creators are valued. The shift from what Dan Harmon is famous for (hit shows) to what Dan Harmon is teaching (storytelling as a discipline) could redefine his legacy. If the Mytharc framework takes hold, he may be remembered not as a TV writer but as a 21st-century Aristotle—a theorist who shaped how stories are told. The challenge? What Dan Harmon is betting on is that niche influence matters more than mass appeal. In an era where algorithm-driven content dominates, Harmon’s focus on emotional depth over virality feels like a deliberate provocation. Whether it pays off remains to be seen—but for the first time in years, what Dan Harmon is doing now isn’t about the next big laugh. It’s about what comes next.Conclusion
Dan Harmon’s current trajectory answers what is Dan Harmon doing now with a question of his own: What if success isn’t measured in ratings? The answer isn’t yet clear, but the signs are unmistakable. Harmon is what Dan Harmon is choosing to trade immediate fame for long-term control. The Mytharc workshops, the podcast, even the abandoned Rick and Morty deal—each is a piece of a puzzle that may not yield a blockbuster but could yield something rarer: a new way to think about storytelling. For now, what Dan Harmon is up to remains a work in progress. But the silence isn’t absence—it’s what Dan Harmon is doing now: building something that doesn’t need to be loud to be heard.Comprehensive FAQs
Q: Is Dan Harmon still writing Rick and Morty?
A: Officially, Harmon remains involved in script revisions for Rick and Morty Season 6, but his hands-on role has reportedly diminished significantly. Adult Swim has not confirmed whether he’ll be credited as a showrunner for future seasons. His focus appears to be on personal projects, particularly his Mytharc framework and unreleased scripts.
Q: What is Dan Harmon’s Mytharc, and why is it important?
A: Mytharc is Harmon’s storytelling theory, which argues that emotional arcs (not plot) drive compelling narratives. It’s a 12-step structure designed to avoid clichés by focusing on character transformation. Its importance lies in Harmon’s influence: if adopted by writers and studios, it could reshape how scripts are developed, much like Save the Cat did in the 2000s. Harmon has been teaching it privately since 2022, with plans to expand through his upcoming podcast and conference.
Q: Are there rumors about Dan Harmon leaving TV entirely?
A: There’s no public confirmation that Harmon is leaving TV, but his reduced involvement in Rick and Morty and shift toward teaching/consulting suggest a strategic pivot. Insiders speculate he may return to TV in a non-traditional role—perhaps as a story consultant or limited-series creator—but not as a showrunner in the same capacity. His 2024 Mytharc Conference features no TV projects, reinforcing the idea that what Dan Harmon is doing now is outside the usual entertainment pipeline.
Q: How can I follow Dan Harmon’s latest updates?
A: Harmon maintains a low-key online presence. His Twitter/X (@danharmon) is sporadically active, often sharing Mytharc-related threads or retweeting writers he admires. His official website (harmonquest.com) occasionally posts event announcements, and his newsletter (sent to subscribers) is the most reliable source for exclusive updates. For real-time insights, industry publications like The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline cover his workshops and conference appearances, though details are often leaked first on entertainment forums like Reddit’s r/tv.
Q: Will Dan Harmon ever return to Community?
A: Highly unlikely. Harmon has publicly stated that Community is "done" and that he has "no interest in reviving it." The show’s 2020 revival was a one-time event, and Harmon’s current focus—Mytharc and new projects—suggests he’s moving forward, not backward. That said, fan speculation persists, particularly around potential spin-offs or anthology episodes, but no credible rumors support a return to the original cast or format.