Joe Russo claims Netflix could be the streaming service to make the Community dream of #SixSeasonsAndAMovie come true. The show aired from 2009 to 2014 on NBC before moving to Yahoo! Screen for the final season after fans campaigned for its return. The former comedy’s complicated history means that anything is possible. Dan Harmon, co-creator of Rick and Morty, based the show on his own experiences at community college. The Russo brothers produced the series and directed many episodes, before leaving in season four to head Captain America: The Winter Soldier, but returned with Harmon for the fifth and sixth seasons.
Community developed a devout cult following for its specific blend of comedy, pop culture references, meta-humor, and an all-star ensemble cast. Joel McHale played Jeff Winger, a disbarred lawyer who returns to community college in his Colorado town to earn a bachelor’s degree. He inadvertently forms a seven-person study group featuring activist Britta (Gillian Jacobs), pop-culture fan Abed (Danny Pudi), former house-wife Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown), Type-A Annie (Alison Brie), heart-of-gold Troy (Donald Glover), and the eldest member, millionaire Pierce (Chevy Chase). The series chronicled the antics of the group at Greendale Community College.
Collider reported Joe Russo, now more prominent in Hollywood for his contributions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, stated: “We'd certainly be willing to do it. We love our Community family. That cast, we’re all still very close to all of them. It’d certainly be schedule-depending for us. But I believe there will be a Community movie, especially now that it’s doing so well on streaming. Someone like Netflix could step up and make that movie.” Russo also remarked that since the show is so contained, budgets could be kept low. The news comes nearly three weeks after the complete series joined the Netflix catalog and remained in the Top 10 for most of that time. Its presence on the colossal streaming service opens the opportunity to build the relationship between Community and Netflix.
Netflix is notorious for taking under-appreciated cult shows and offering new life through extended audience reach and in some cases, bringing the show back for new episodes. One of the most famous examples is Arrested Development, which aired on FOX from 2003-2006 before its cancellation. The streaming service billed the show as a “Netflix Semi-Original,” and released two additional seasons in 2013 and then again over 2018-2019. Other series include 1990s sitcom Full House, which came back as Fuller House, a Wet Hot American Summer prequel and sequel, new episodes of Queer Eye, and a four-episode miniseries, Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life. With the history of success behind reboots and revivals, Community seems like a smart investment for Netflix.
Community developed a mantra over it’s run: Six Seasons And A Movie. The fandom adopted the phrase as their mission and willed Yahoo! Screen to pick the series up for a sixth season. Word of mouth for the show is powerful; the Netflix numbers prove it. The Russo brothers have become more famous after four installments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as has Dan Harmon after the success of Rick and Morty. Netflix would be wise to jump on Joe Russo’s idea and cash in on making a Community movie a reality.
Source: Collider