Community Cast Declined to Join New Chevy Chase Documentary

The cast of Community made it clear they didn’t want to take part in a new documentary about Chevy Chase, according to the film’s director.

Marina Zenovich, who directed CNN Films’ I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not, said she reached out to every major cast member from the NBC sitcom — and all of them declined.

“Every single person said no,” Zenovich told Variety.

The decision stands out because Chase was a key part of Community during its early years. He starred on the show for four seasons before leaving in 2012 following reports of serious tension on set, including an alleged racial slur. He later returned briefly for a cameo in Season 5.

Zenovich said she was disappointed but understood the refusals. “There are things people don’t want to talk about,” she explained. She also confirmed that Community creator Dan Harmon chose not to participate.

While Chase’s former co-stars stayed away, the documentary does feature several well-known friends and collaborators, including Goldie Hawn, Lorne Michaels, Ryan Reynolds, and Martin Short.

One notable exception from the Community world is Jay Chandrasekhar, who directed multiple episodes of the series and agreed to appear in the film. Zenovich said his involvement was crucial.

“If Jay had said no, I would have been screwed,” she said.

Chandrasekhar, now 57, discussed the infamous on-set incident involving Chase and described it as a “full meltdown,” offering new insight into the tension that surrounded the actor during his time on the show.

The documentary takes a wide look at Chase’s life and career, exploring his rise to fame, strained relationships, health issues, conflicts with colleagues, and long struggles with drugs and alcohol. Zenovich admitted that interviewing Chase was not easy.

“The interviews with Chevy were very hard,” she said. “I wanted to figure out who was the real person behind the conflicted, guarded, and somewhat fragile man we see on camera.”

According to Zenovich, the film reveals a more complex picture of Chase — one that includes self-awareness, but also deep pain and heartbreak beneath his confident public image.

I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not will premiere on CNN at 8 p.m. ET/PT.