Highlights
Keith David has not been asked to return for the Community movie, but he wishes them success and would love to play his character again.
David is filled with pessimism when it comes to receiving the call for a return, expressing his disappointment as he genuinely relished his role as Elroy.
Although it would be fantastic to have David rejoin for the movie, the pivotal focus lies on the core cast who are expected to endure even in his absence. The returns of other cast members, however, are still uncertain.
With the Community movie officially approved, fans are eagerly anticipating the cast members who will be returning to fulfill the beloved #SixSeasonsAndAMovie prophecy. However, Keith David, who portrayed Elroy Patashnik in the show's final season, has expressed doubts about his involvement in the film.
When asked about his potential return for the Community movie, David revealed that he had not been contacted regarding reprising his role as Patashnik. Despite this, he remains open to the idea of returning to play the character. Considering the impact of the writers' strike on the Community movie, it is possible that the situation could change, but it seems that David is not particularly optimistic.
In response to questions about his potential return in the Community movie, David gave a straightforward answer. He mentioned that he hadn't been asked to participate, but he expressed his hope for the movie's success. David acknowledged that his return was unlikely and shared that he didn't anticipate hearing from the production team, although he would like to play Patashnik again. He briefly alluded to the reasons behind this unlikelihood, stating that he would be pleasantly surprised if he did receive the call. Despite this, he expressed his fondness for portraying Elroy and his gratitude for the opportunity, even if it was only for one season.
David appeared in 12 out of the 13 episodes of Community season 6. Patashnik, a developer and software programmer, was introduced to the show after The Dean's ill-advised purchase of a Virtual Reality gaming system. Eventually, Patashnik enrolled as a student at Greendale and became the head of the school's IT Department. Although the show was nearing its end, David brought some fresh comedic elements to Community. His standout episode was "Wedding Videography" where he delivered a hilarious bit on Elroy's addiction to encouraging white people, and he provided one of the show's funniest lines: "Now this is a man that knows how to marry his cousin!"
It is disappointing that there are currently no plans to bring him back. However, considering his less significant role in the long term, particularly in Community season 6, his absence may not have a major impact. Fortunately, fans will finally get what they've been hoping for with Donald Glover's return as Troy Barnes in the movie. While it would be great to have David, an experienced performer, back for the film, the project can still succeed without him.
Although David won't be returning, there is uncertainty regarding the participation of other cast members such as Paget Brewster as Francesca Dart or Better Call Saul star Jonathan Banks as Buzz Hickey. Community has a history of discontinuing recurring characters, as seen with Vaughn Miller, Professor Slater, and Professor Whitman, who were all left behind after the first season without any mention again. The most important aspect is that the main cast is mostly on board, which is crucial for the film's success.
The Community movie will be streamed on Peacock.
Source: Keith David/X
