#AndAMovie: Chevy Chase out, Donald Glover to return in Community movie

The long-promised feature Community Movie is slated to start filming in Summer 2024. Atlanta’s Donald Glover also confirmed to reprise his role as “Troy Barnes,” Joel McHale, co-star and executive producer of the upcoming spin-off, revealed.

Dan Harmon’s hit sitcom Community first aired on NBC from 2009-2014. Despite being canceled after five seasons, the ill-fated Yahoo! Screen streaming website renewed the sitcom to air its sixth and final season in 2015.

#AndAMovie: Donald Glover confirmed to return in Community movie

The beloved sitcom revolved around seven unlikely friends of misfits at Greendale Community College. Ex-lawyer Jeff Winger (McHale) started a fake study group to get into Britta Perry’s (Gillian Jacobs) good graces. Quickly realizing Jeff’s intention, Britta invited Abed Nadir (Danny Pudi). Abed, in turn, gathered Troy Barnes (Donald Glover), Annie Edison (Alison Brie), Shirley Bennett (Yvette Nicole Brown), and Pierce Hawthorne (Chevy Chase). Ken Jeong and Jim Rash starred in the series as disgraced Spanish teacher Ben Chang and Dean Pelton, respectively.

IMDb | Community

The call for “#SixSeasonsAndAMovie” began when NBC canceled Community. Eventually, it became a running gag even after the show ended. The Community cast continuously expressed interest in reuniting years after the season finale and last September 2022, it was finally confirmed by NBC Universal executive Susan Rovner.

“‘Six seasons and a movie’ started out as a cheeky line from Community’s early seasons and quickly ignited a passionate fan movement for this iconic, hilarious, and cool (cool, cool) NBC comedy,” Rovner said in a statement. “We’re incredibly grateful that 15 years later, we are able to deliver fans this promised movie and can’t wait to get to work with Dan Harmon, Andrew Guest, Joel McHale, Sony, and our partners at UTV to continue this epic comedy for Peacock audiences.”

.@alisonbrie @kenjeong @dannypudi @YNB @donaldglover @GillianA @peacock @SonyTV @CommunityTV pic.twitter.com/ynVqgaPuQD
— Joel McHale (@joelmchale) September 30, 2022

Despite being confirmed and echoed by the cast on social media, filming was postponed to Summer 2024 due to scheduling conflicts and the Writers Guild strike . Joel McHale, in an interview with Kelly Ripa’s “Let’s Talk Off Camera” podcast, shared some exciting news.

Troy sailing away with LeVar Burton plot to continue

IMDB | Community “Geothermal Escapism”

“Donald’s coming back and that’s really important,” McHale revealed. “The fact that Donald’s gonna do it, that was the big piece. But I think everyone’s coming back. I mean, so far we’re pretty good. And I think that will happen. If not then, you know, Donald will be there.”

Donald Glover bid goodbye to his character Troy in Season 5. His character arc ended abruptly as he exited the show to pursue his musical career as Childish Gambino. Originally, Glover was not included in the cast list when Peacock officially announced the movie. He subtly (yet unofficially) confirmed his return in a GQ interview last April.

Community movie without Chevy Chase

Besides Glover, Chase is also a notable name in the Community household. Chase retired from his character after expressing anger with his arc. Moreover, he used a racial slur – allegedly not toward any of the cast or crew. Both the network and Chase agreed it would be best for him to leave the series. He left the show in Season 6.

IMDB | Community “The Psychology of Letting Go”

Chase was also not mentioned in the film’s announcement so to clear confusion, McHale said in the interview not to expect a surprise cameo.

“Yeah, I don’t think so,” McHale said when Ripa asked whether Chase will appear in the movie. “There wasn’t any issues at all when we were making the show,” he stated with a tinge of sarcasm.

Chase’s not-so-different character Pierce was killed off-screen in the show. His death followed a funeral hosted by his cult and an episode wherein the group addressed their can of worms. Walton Goggins guested in the said episode as the attorney carrying out Pierce’s will. During a 2020 Zoom table read, Goggins was replaced by Pedro Pascal.

“Hopefully Walton and Pedro would come back on, but Pedro seems to be the most famous person now on the planet, so I don’t know,” McHale said.

While Brown, who starred as the devout Christian mother Shirley, remained silent if she would join the cast in the upcoming movie.