With the recent death of star Corey Monteith, Glee creator Ryan Murphy spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about how that he and his fellow producers, along with Lea Michele, Monteith’s co-star and real-life girlfriend, have had to discuss all of their options moving forward with the show.
As Fox announced Friday, Glee’s fifth-season premiere date has been pushed back a week. The season will now bow Sept. 26, with production set to begin in August rather than late July.Murphy praises Michele’s strength throughout the past week, noting that he and his producers will continue to take their cues from her. Shortly after hearing the news, Murphy told Michele that it would be fine by him if she decided that the show or her role in it should not continue. According to Murphy, Michele “bravely” suggested that that wasn’t an option.
What has not been decided yet is how Monteith’s absence on the show will be addressed. But the current plan is to pay tribute during the show’s third episode, assuming Murphy and his team “can get it perfect.” (The first two episodes of season five, a long-planned Beatles tribute, has already been written and will need to be tweaked slightly.) After that, Murphy intends to take a long hiatus and try to figure out what to do with the show and how to come back.
