'Glee' Season 5 to Honor Cory Monteith with Tribute, Creator Ryan Murphy Reveals
"Glee" co-creator Ryan Murphy revealed that the show will resume shooting in about a month, a decision that was based on the collective wishes of all involved in producing the show, with Murphy insisting that the cast and crew reuniting is the best way to come to terms with the tragic death of Cory Monteith.
"We will begin shooting in late August the two shows we had already written, so that people can physically go back to work," Murphy told Deadspin.com.
"We will then do an episode that will deal with the death of Finn's character and follow that with a long hiatus. I don't know exactly when we will come back, and we are trying our best with this attempt at damage control. We are planning a memorial for the cast and crew sometime this week on the Paramount lot."
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There was talk of postponing the show until late this year or early next year, but producers decided that the best way to heal and come to terms with what happened is to have the cast and crew together in order to offer support for one another.
"For many of the people we work with who are very young, and also for the fans of the show, this is probably the first time they have experienced death, and that was not lost on any of us here," Murphy added. "I understand that everyone has their own way of processing grief. Every possible option was explored, and what we did was look to the people who loved Cory, who worked with him most, and specifically Lea. This is what they wanted to do."
The news has shocked the entertainment industry with friends of the late star expressing their deepest sympathies. A representative for Monteith's co-star and girlfriend, Michele, released a statement asking for privacy as she comes to terms with her loss.
"We ask that everyone kindly respect Lea's privacy during this devastating time," the statement read.
"She is absolutely hysterical and completely inconsolable," a source told Hollywood Life. "She is devastated beyond belief."
