Community, the show that will never die, is returning next spring for its sixth season (bringing it that much closer to fulfilling its campaign promise of #SixSeasonsAndAMovie), but the premiere will find the acclaimed comedy in different shape than we last left it.
For one, the Dan Harmon-created series has jumped from NBC, which axed it last summer, to a new home on Yahoo Screen. For another, series regular Yvette Nicole Brown, who played Shirley Bennett, opted not to return for the sixth season, leaving a considerable void. As such, it makes sense that the first images from season 6 want to show us one way in which Community lovers can expect to see a new kind of show.
There’s not much context in the two released shots, which introduce new series regulars played by Keith David and Paget Brewster. David, a thematic replacement for departed star Chevy Chase (whose spot was previously filled by Jonathan Banks in season 5 before that actor was called away for Better Call Saul), plays a retired scientist who comes to Greendale Community College in hopes of reinventing himself. Soon enough, he finds himself welcomed into the study group. Brewster, meanwhile, plays a consultant who comes to Greendale in order to spruce things up around campus.
Joel McHale, Alison Brie, Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, Jim Rash and Ken Jeong are all returning for Community‘s sixth season. Chase’s character died, and so there’s no spot for him to return, but it’s possible that Community will be able to summon former series regulars Donald Glover, John Oliver and Banks for guest spots. In particular, there’s a huge plea from fans for the return of Glover, whose ex-high school quarterback Troy Barnes was in many ways the heart of the show. Glover left to pursue his rapping career under the name Childish Gambino, so it’s likely he won’t want to slip back into the role of Troy, though fans unanimously want him to.
Production is underway on the 13-episode sixth season of Community. We’ll keep you posted as we learn more about it.
