Community fans, here is the state of the long-promised movie: it keeps inching forward, then slamming into the same wall. The good news is everyone wants to do it. The bad news is calendars still run Hollywood.
How close it actually got
On the Feb 26 episode of The Watch podcast, series writer Andrew Guest laid out just how close Greendale came back to life. After Peacock gave the green light in 2022, momentum built through the labor stoppages and then, right as the writers and actors strikes wrapped in late 2023, the pieces finally lined up.
"We got very close to shooting that."
Guest says the cast was available and eager, a line producer was in place, and the script was moving into a rewrite.
- Cast: all on board and ready to go
- Crew: a line producer set
- Script: teed up for a fresh pass
And then one cast member’s other project locked in dates that collided with the window they had. Guest wouldn’t name names and he does not want fans turning that into a blame game.
"Do not be upset with any of these people. It’s hard because they’re all incredibly talented and very busy."
Why they will not fake it
Yes, some shows have solved this problem by filming actors separately and stitching the scenes together later. Arrested Development famously did it during its Netflix run. Guest made it clear that is the opposite of how a Community movie should work.
"The fun and energy of that show is the chemistry between these people in the same room, around a table."
Translation: if they cannot get everyone physically together, they will wait until they can.
Where things stand now
The holdup is timing, not interest or budget or a creative cold feet situation. The plan is to find a window when seven very busy actors can show up to the same set on the same days. When that happens, the study group finally gets its reunion. Until then, the dream stays parked on the Greendale lot.