Various cast and crew members from the hit TV sitcom Community have expressed their desire to make a film version of the show; now, Star Trek: The Next Generation star LeVar Burton has voiced his support.
In an interview with Inverse, Burton was asked if he would be a part of a potential Community film. "Without question, absolutely," Burton declared. "I love Donald Glover. He's a genius. Any opportunity to interact with him. I had a blast on the two episodes that I did. The answer is an unequivocal yes." Burton believed that he could play an integral part of the film’s story, following his departure with Glover's Troy Barnes, to sail around the world. "I think there's still some thought that we remain captured by pirates and are trolling the Gulf of Mexico," Burton explained. "But I'm sure that Donald would find a way to incorporate that into the narrative."
Burton first appeared as himself on Community in the Season 2 episode "Intermediate Documentary Filmmaking," during which the actor is called by Pierce, played by Saturday Night Live legend Chevy Chase, so that Troy can meet his role model. However, this ends up torturous for Troy, who is afraid of disappointing Burton and is rendered speechless in front of him for the entire day.
Troy faced his fear in a later episode, which features Burton's second and final appearance as he joins Troy in a sailing trip around the world.
Burton's support for a Community movie echoed that already expressed by the cast and crew. Demand for a Community film began due to a Season 2 joke within the show which predicted it would get "six seasons and movie." When the cast had a Zoom reunion last year to do a table read of Season 5 episode "Cooperative Polygraphy," the entire cast raised their hands when asked who would participate in a Community movie, while showrunner Dan Harmon responded by taking off his shirt.
Avengers: Endgame director Joe Russo, who was a producer on the show alongside his brother Anthony, also expressed interest in returning for a film. "We'd certainly be willing to do it. We love our Community family," he shared. "That cast, we're all still very close to all of them. It'd be schedule-depending for us. But I believe there will be a Community movie, especially now that it's doing well on streaming."
Burton, meanwhile, is also petitioning for another role: the host of Jeopardy! The Reading Rainbow star was the subject of a petition to replace Alex Trebek as the host of Jeopardy! following his death in November 2020. Burton voiced his support of the petition and has since been given a guest host spot on the classic trivia show scheduled from July 26-30.
Source: Inverse