Joel McHale Says ‘Community’ Movie Is Finally Happening: ‘We Have the Money’  (Exclusive)

Community is officially coming to the big screen. 

Joel McHale confirmed to Us Weekly exclusively that the long-awaited Community movie will hopefully begin filming this fall after receiving funding. 

“We are going to make the movie and we have the money,” McHale, 53, told Us while discussing his “Smooth For All” campaign with Seattle’s Best Coffee. “We are funded. That is the hardest thing to get made, or get to get done, and we have got that done. It’s come down to scheduling. And so, I think it’ll be done by — I think it’ll shoot at some point this year. Probably in the autumn. That’s my prediction and that’s also my hope.”

Produced by NBC and created by Dan Harmon, Community followed the antics of a study group at Greendale Community College. The sitcom, which starred McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Dani Pudi, Chevy Chase, Yvette Nicole Brown, Alison Brie and Donald Glover, won an Emmy and developed a cult following when it premiered in 2009. McHale previously took the blame for the movie’s delay, telling GQ it was due to his schedule. 

“If it’s anybody’s fault, it’s my schedule on this one,” McHale said in July 2024. “It’s not [Donald’s] at all. He was available. … We love Donald. You can fully blame my schedule.”

The Community series finale aired in 2015 after six seasons, though the movie has been in talks since it was confirmed by Peacock in 2022. Along with McHale, several original cast members have revealed their return for the film, including Pudi, Brie, Jacobs and Glover. 

In addition to the Community film, McHale is also starring in the upcoming Scream sequel, Scream 7, and executive producing and starring in Fox’s sitcom Animal Control. He just wrapped a guest-starring appearance in Yellowjackets and has been hosting NBC’s reality competition series House of Villains since 2023. McHale, who’s first job was serving coffee at a coffee cart in Seattle, told Us that he maintains a full work schedule because he loves the industry.  

“There’s way harder working people than me, but I love [acting],” McHale explained. “I still, to this day, can’t believe that people will pay me to perform. That’s what I wanted to do as a kid. I’m always like, ‘Well, I’m going to do this until the real job police come and take me away.’ When people like, ‘Oh, is it hard? The hours are long.’ I’m like, there’s free food all the time. [Production] will say, ‘Would you like some chips?’ I’m like, ‘Absolutely.’ I love the business and I think it’s the greatest business on the planet, next to Seattle’s Best Coffee.” 

McHale’s partnership with Seattle’s Best Coffee is a natural fit, in part because the brand was founded in his hometown. The actor brought his unique sense of humor to the “Smooth For All” campaign spot, which was directed by comedian and writer Neal Brennan. 

“I grew up wanting to be an actor and everyone thought I was nuts,” McHale shared. “So now, [with] Seattle’s Best, they did a bunch of humorous spots. They let us do comedy; they have a really good sense of humor. I think the whole campaign of smoother coffee brings you smoother days — because you can’t deny that you have bad days and bad stuff happens — but a good cup of coffee really makes a difference.”