Why Chevy Chase Decided to Leave “Community” Despite Soaring Popularity
- Chevy Chase’s departure from 'Community' was filled with drama.
- His behavior and conflicts with Dan Harmon caused problems on set.
- Considering all this, the 'Community' movie will likely not include Pierce.
Chevy Chase’s exit from Community was one of the most talked-about moments in the show’s history. He played Pierce Hawthorne from the very beginning, but despite being the biggest name in the cast, his time on the show was filled with drama and conflicts.
Community was on fire in terms of popularity, yet Chase’s departure in season 4 was anything but smooth. So, why did he leave? And what does it all mean for the Community movie that fans have been waiting for? Let’s break it all down.
Who Did Chevy Chase Play In Community?
If you’ve ever seen Community, you know who Pierce Hawthorne is. Pierce is the wealthy, socially awkward, and often offensive member of the Greendale study group. He’s not your typical college student — he’s a man in his 60s who’s stuck in his ways.
Despite his flaws, Pierce is somehow an important part of the group. He is often the butt of jokes within the group, always trying to be funny but usually failing miserably. His backstory includes running a successful business, Hawthorne Wipes—a moist-towelette company—which, much like his personality, is rather bland.
He often says things that are completely out of touch with reality, which makes him both funny and frustrating to watch. In short, Pierce is kind of a mess, but that’s what made him a great character on the show — you never knew what absurd thing he was going to say next.
Chevy Chase Left Community Due to Problems on Set
Chevy Chase’s time on Community wasn’t all sunshine and laughter. In fact, his behind-the-scenes behavior was a major cause of tension, and it didn’t take long for things to start going downhill. From the very start, there were problems between Chase and the show’s creator, Dan Harmon.
Harmon had a vision for the show, but Chase wasn’t exactly on board. Even though Harmon wanted other actors to play Pierce, NBC pushed for Chase, hoping his star power would help the show. The tension between Harmon and Chase only grew as the show went on.
According to Reddit, one of the biggest issues came during season 3. In an episode called Digital Estate Planning, the show turned its characters into 8-bit video game versions of themselves. The episode was supposed to have an emotional moment between Pierce and Abed, where Pierce opens up about his father.
But Chase refused to do the scene. This led to a huge argument between Chase and Harmon, and the scene was scrapped. Later, at the Community wrap party, Harmon took the opportunity to call out Chase, which only made things worse.
Chase didn’t take it well and left a very angry voicemail in response. That voicemail ended up getting leaked online (via Deadline). Eventually, things got so bad that Harmon was fired from the show before season 4.
But, ironically, his return to the show after Chase left marked the end of that chapter of Community. The actor’s exit wasn’t just due to professional differences. There were also reports of personal conflicts. One of the most serious incidents involved Chase using a racial slur toward a star of Atlanta.
While David Glover claimed it didn’t affect him much (via The New Yorker), it further strained the relationship between Chase and the rest of the cast. In the end, Chase and NBC reached a mutual agreement for him to leave the show before the season ended.
Chase later told The Huffington Post UK that he regretted joining Community, calling it a “big mistake” — even though he once thought it was funny at the time. It was clear that by the time he left, the relationship between him and the rest of the cast was beyond repair.
Is Chevy Chase Coming Back for the Community Movie?
After years of rumors and waiting, the Community movie is finally on the horizon, with production getting delayed only because of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. While several main cast members are confirmed to return for the movie, Chevy Chase’s involvement remains a mystery — and most people don’t think he’ll be coming back.
Joel McHale, who played Jeff Winger, was asked by ET Online about the possibility of Chase returning for the film. His response? “Yeah, I don’t think so.”
McHale even joked that Pierce had been killed off, so it would be hard to bring him back. Dan Harmon, the show’s creator, also seemed to rule out Chase’s return. When asked about it, he said: “I don’t even know if it’s legal for him to come back.”
Chase himself hasn’t exactly helped the situation. In a September 2023 interview with WTF with Marc Maron, he said that Community “wasn’t funny enough” — not exactly the type of comment that would make fans eager to see him back on the screen. Given all the drama and the negative feelings surrounding his departure, it seems like the Community movie is better off without him.
The Fallout Following Chevy Chase’s Exit From Community
When Chevy Chase left Community, it left a big gap in the show. Sure, Pierce’s character was often a source of tension, but he also played a significant role in the group’s dynamic. Without him, the group felt a little different, and it was obvious that something was missing.
Pierce’s departure also had a major impact on the show’s tone. Without him, the group was a little less dysfunctional, and while it didn’t mean the end of the show’s absurdity, it did mark a shift in its humor.
That said, Community didn’t completely lose its charm. The remaining characters, like Jeff, Abed, Annie, and Troy, kept the show going strong — and their interactions were still just as funny and weird as ever. Chase’s exit also gave Donald Glover’s character, Troy, the perfect send-off.
With Pierce out of the picture, the show could focus more on Troy’s departure and the emotional moments surrounding it. While the show had its ups and downs, the remaining cast was able to wrap up the series with a sense of closure, despite the absence of one of its original stars.
At the end of the day, Community will always be remembered as one of the quirkiest and most unique shows of its time. Sure, it had its fair share of drama and controversies — especially surrounding Chevy Chase’s exit — but that didn’t stop it from becoming a cult classic.
Watch Community on Peacock!
