“Six seasons and a movie” is finally happening. “Community” is getting a long-awaited movie. Peacock announced the project today via a press release.
The original cast will reunite with series creator and executive producer Dan Harmon (“Rick and Morty”) for the new film. The new movie is in the works for NBCUniversal’s Peacock streaming service.
‘Community’ Movie Is Finally Happening
The upcoming movie will reunite the show’s original stars Joel McHale, Danny Pudi, Alison Brie, Gillian Jacobs, Jim Rash, and Ken Jeong with Harmon and executive producer Andrew Guest (“Hawkeye,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “30 Rock”). McHale is also attached as an executive producer. Sony Pictures Television and Universal Studio Group’s Universal Television are co-producing the film.
The movie fulfills a longtime social media movement that began in 2014 with the hashtag, #SixSeasonsandaMovie. The official “Community” Twitter and McHale had fun with the catchphrase with today’s announcement:
six seasons…
— IT'S HAPPENING! SIX SEASONS AND A MOVIE! (@CommunityTV) September 30, 2022
.@alisonbrie @kenjeong @dannypudi @YNB @donaldglover @GillianA @peacock @SonyTV @CommunityTV pic.twitter.com/ynVqgaPuQD
— Joel McHale (@joelmchale) September 30, 2022
Peacock also announced that the streaming service has acquired non-exclusive streaming rights for the full series library. The show first debuted on NBC in 2009. It ultimately ran for 110 episodes and six seasons.
Some of the other actors also tweeted on the Friday announcement, including Jeong and Brie:
— Ken Jeong (@kenjeong) September 30, 2022
#sixseasonsandamovie
pic.twitter.com/9CDIcXdCKb— Ken Jeong (@kenjeong) September 30, 2022
Let’s gooooo 😏 #sixseasonsandamovieonpeacock #andamovie https://t.co/QCq2wQ0ufF
— Alison Brie (@alisonbrie) September 30, 2022
NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, Entertainment Content, Chairman Susan Rovner said on today’s announcement, “‘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 continued, “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.”
Sony Pictures Television Studios Co-President Jason Clodfelter added, “Community was light years ahead of its time when it premiered on NBC in 2009 and we are thrilled to once again visit the brilliant minds of Dan Harmon, Andrew Guest, and this impeccable cast. We are grateful to Peacock, our partners at UTV, and to all the zealous fans who have cherished this iconic show.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Harmon is co-writing the film’s script with Guest. Russ Krasnoff and Gary Foster are also attached as executive producers.
Select Cast Members Not Signed Yet
Currently, the movie has cast members McHale as Jeff, Pudi as Abed, Brie as Annie, Jacobs as Britta, Rash as Craig, and Jeong as Ben all lined up. The big question marks right now are if Donald Glover will return as (Troy), Chevy Chase as Pierce, and Yvette Nicole Brown as Shirley.
THR notes that Glover, Chase, and Brown are not signed to the project. While Brown is not yet attached to the film, she did write about today’s announcement on her Twitter account, saying, “‘Community’ fans are the best fans! I love how you all are celebrating what you alone made possible!”
.@CommunityTV fans are the best fans! I love how you all are celebrating what you alone made possible! #AndAMovie @peacock https://t.co/SD479oStsz
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) September 30, 2022
THR reports that reps for Peacock opted not to comment on the three original cast members’ status for the film and if there any negotiations are expected to reunite all the original cast members. Glover appeared in the show for a few episodes in Season 5 before exiting the show. He did not appear in the show’s finale.
Meanwhile, Chase also left the show before it concluded on Yahoo! Screen. Deadline reports that Chase was in conflict with Harmon during the show, and there were often accusations that he was a jerk while on set. It remains to be seen if the three actors will be back for the movie.
The Return Of ‘Community’
The show’s ability to endure adversity is impressive considering the show was consistently on the bubble for cancellation since it first began. It was finally canceled in 2014 by NBC. However, Sony Pictures Television continued to shop the show around elsewhere, where it was revived for a sixth and final season with Yahoo! Screen.
Season 6 of “Community” lasted for 13 episodes before the show ended once again. Also, Yahoo! got out of the scripted original TV series game not long after due to the cost, and Yahoo! Screen was dissolved.
The “Community” movie does not yet have an official release date. It will stream exclusively on the Peacock streaming service.
