Although Donald Glover‘s return to Community for the upcoming movie is reason enough to celebrate, many fans are curious about the fate of another recurring character.
When asked if he would reprise his self-referential role for the Community movie after sailing off with Glover’s Troy in Season 5 of the NBC sitcom, LeVar Burton played coy but ultimately agreed audiences deserve to see an update on his whereabouts.
“Ask Glenn Garner Dan Harmon,” Burton told TVLine when asked about a potential cameo.
Glover starred as former high school jock Troy since the show premiered in 2009, before departing with the 2014 episode ‘Geothermal Escapism’, which saw him sailing around the world with Burton on the Childish Tycoon as stipulated in their late mutual friend Pierce’s (Chevy Chase) will.
Although that was the last time either of them were seen on the show, a news ticker at the end of the Season 5 finale teased, “BREAKING NEWS: LeVar Burton and non-celebrity companion captured by pirates in the Gulf of Mexico.”
Danny Pudi, Alison Brie, Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs and Ken Jeong in Community.
Peacock
When asked if that was indeed the fictional Burton’s fate, the real Burton responded, “I don’t doubt it. That was the last we heard from them. They’re on the Childish, as are the pirates, so… we may need an update.”
After creating the comedy series that ran for six seasons from 2009 to 2015 (its final season streaming on Yahoo! Screen), Harmon penned the long-awaited movie with former show writer Andrew Guest.
Peacock officially ordered the feature in 2022, confirming the return of stars Joel McHale, Danny Pudi, Alison Brie, Gillian Jacobs, Jim Rash and Ken Jeong. Yvette Nicole Brown has also confirmed her return, noting earlier this month that the script is “being reworked” to include her character Shirley.
Last month, Community: The Movie was announced as one of 19 projects that will benefit from $51.6 million in incentives from California’s film and TV tax credits program.
In July, McHale took responsibility for the movie’s delay, telling GQ that fans “can fully blame my schedule” following speculation that Glover’s busy schedule was holding up production.
