According to Joel McHale, the long-awaited Community movie nearly started filming when the writers' strike put a kibosh on the film's production.
McHale voiced his displeasure over the timing of the writer's strike, as he said they were close to filming the Community movie. At the same time, McHale expressed his support for the writers and their efforts, assuring fans that when it's all over, they'll get right back to work, and even better, they'll reference the strike itself.
McHale gave the full details on the Community movie while talking with TVLine. “That was a bummer because we were getting very close to filming," McHale said. “But at the same time, I’m a thousand billion percent behind the writers. The writers need to be paid.” McHale then promised that they will resume their work on the Community movie and even make a joke about it. “When this strike is over, we’ll come back, and we’ll make it. And I am sure that [series creator] Dan [Harmon] will put in 12 jokes addressing the fact it took [this long to come together]. But we’ll get there. It just may take a little while.” It is a shame because McHale admitted that the Community movie was a dream come true when it was first greenlit.
Fans have eagerly awaited the Community movie since the show ended in 2015 to fulfill the #SixSeasonsAndAMovie prophecy. While the show already had a cult following when it aired on television, its popularity received a huge boost when it started airing on streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. Because the show started to get more recognition, there came a larger outcry for a movie since the show had hinted at them doing one until it provided the #AndAMovie towards the end of its final episode. Now that they've got one, the Writers' Strike will sadly delay it for who knows how long.
What makes it more frustrating is that everyone in the Community cast - sans Chevy Chase - will seemingly return for the movie, including Donald Glover as Troy Barnes, who many believe was the show's glue when it was when in its prime. Upon the announcement that the movie was coming, fans were eager to see (almost) everyone back in action for a full-length feature, so to see the Writers' Strike unintentionally dish out this new curve ball is unfortunate because now fans will have to wait a little longer.
However, perhaps after the strike, Dan Harmon and Co. will have more time to iron out the story. They say you can't rush art, and Community was one of the best modern parodies ever to grace television. Sure, fans want to see their favorite study group as soon as possible, but they also want this reunion to be good, so this could be a blessing in disguise.
The Community movie will stream on Peacock.
Source: TVLine.com