Glee Delays Season Premiere By Only One Week; Cory Monteith Tribute Planned for Episode Three

Glee co-creator Ryan Murphy broke his silence since the July 13 death of series star Cory Monteith due to an overdose of heroin and alcohol. In an interview with TVLine.com, Murphy stated that Monteith’s longtime girlfriend and Glee co-star Lea Michele pushed for the show’s season-five premiere to be delayed by only one week to September 26. Murphy stated, “She was very adamant that she thought it was best for the cast and crew to get back together sooner [rather] than later so that mortgages could be paid and people could take care of their families. Cory was so beloved that she felt people really needed to be together in this time. So we sort of followed her lead.”

The cast is scheduled to begin filming season five’s two previously written Beatles tribute episodes at the beginning of August. The death of Monteith’s character, Finn, will be addressed in the third episode, which Murphy will co-write with Glee co-creators Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan, with input from Michele. “[It] is a very difficult episode to write,” Murphy said. “[It] has to be done very carefully and with a lot of taste and really making sure that it’s a tribute to Cory.”

Following the first three episodes, the show will take a long hiatus to plan the rest of the season.
Murphy additionally reported to Deadline.com that a memorial has been planned for the show’s cast and crew to take place on the Paramount lot this coming week.

For TheaterMania’s photo tribute to Cory Monteith, click here.