Not a whole lot is known about the upcoming Community movie. But according to creator Dan Harmon, the pressure to produce a good film has been “truly terrifying” for him.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Harmon — who created Community in 2009 — didn’t reveal much about the film. He did note that it wouldn’t be “too much of a spoiler to say that the story would involve the gang getting back together.”
Harmon also revealed that, despite the busy schedules of the stars of the show, all of them — except for Chevy Chase, who won’t be returning — will be filmed together, as filming separately was something Harmon refused to do.
“Because the thing that’s going to matter most to me as an audience member or to anybody who loved that show is seeing those people see each other,” Harmon said. “And they still love each other, and it’s not going to feel the same if you’re shooting them separately at different months in different locations.”
Harmon hopes WGA/SAG-AFTRA strikes don’t hamper future filming
Prior to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes hitting Hollywood, the plan was for the Community movie to film in Atlanta, to help accommodate Donald Glover’s schedule. However, Harmon now fears that the stoppages could wreak havoc on everyone’s schedules. “By the time we can re-coordinate, what are the odds that everyone’s schedule is going to once again align?”
Harmon also touched on the fear of trying to meet the high demand that fans of the show, and how much pressure it is.
“And that’s the fandom that’s been the most supportive of me, all told, and has endured the most for supporting me,” he says. “Because I wasn’t thinking about them when I was feuding with Chevy. Only later did I realize that I’d hurt these people who didn’t want to think about me as some kind of odd, self-styled Kubrick. They cared about Greendale, this world that I created, and suddenly they were getting this unadulterated side order of me, which was not fair to them.
“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.”
