For years now, “Community” fans have been repeating the phrase “six seasons and a movie” as they fought back against the show’s cancellation. Then, once the fans got the six seasons, the focus has now been on getting the spinoff movie made. And prior to the WGA and SAG strikes, the film seemed to be on track and ready to get going. However, now everything is a bit of a question. Can a “Community” film live up to the hype? But bigger than that, will a “Community” film ever see production? Dan Harmon isn’t so sure how to answer either of those questions.
Speaking to THR, Dan Harmon talked about the process of bringing “Community” back as a feature film. As he tells it, the film has been in the works for a long time, and Harmon was able to get commitments from every cast member (minus Chevy Chase, of course) to return. In fact, the main cast was able to get their schedules to synch up so they could all film together without the use of filmmaking trickery to get it made. (Harmon won’t make the movie unless everyone is on set together.)
But now, with the WGA and SAG strikes delaying productions on so many projects, it’s back to square one trying to get everyone’s schedules to align once again. And this, Harmon believes, could be a big issue.
READ MORE: Chevy Chase Says ‘Community’ Wasn’t “That Funny Enough For” Him & He Was “Constrained”
“By the time we can re-coordinate, what are the odds that everyone’s schedule is going to once again align?” he said.
Even if they are able to get the stars to align again, the “Community” creator is incredibly concerned that all of this hype and years of expectations could result in a fandom not happy with the final result. This is something that clearly bothers Harmon.
“I hate to say how terrified I am to do it wrong because there’s a part of me that knows that that fear cannot possibly result in a good thing,” Harmon continues. “And you’re not going to get anywhere doing an impression of what you think you should do or what you think they want, but I really don’t want to do it wrong, and it is truly terrifying. But then I’m holding onto the hope that being honest with myself about how scared I am is at least a way to break the cycle.”
Several months ago, the idea of a “Community” spinoff film seemed like an inevitability. Everything was coming together beautifully. Now? Well, there are some serious concerns. And Harmon is brutally honest about being worried he might let down a fanbase that has been more loyal than nearly any other show of the past two decades. However, if you’re a fan of “Community,” don’t lose hope just yet. Keep beating that “six seasons and a movie” drum. It’s been working for years already.