'Glee' 's Fifth Season Delayed after Death of Cory Monteith

The team has "jointly decided to delay the start of production until early August"

Published on July 19, 2013 06:30 PM

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The show must go on – but not on its originally scheduled date.

Following the death of Cory Monteith, Fox’s hit series has delayed production, as well as its fifth season premiere date, the network announced Friday.

“In light of the tragic passing of beloved Glee cast member Cory Monteith, the series’ executive producers, 20th Century Fox Television and Fox Broadcasting Company have jointly decided to delay the start of production of Glee until early August,” the statement said, adding that the premiere has been moved to Sept. 26 from its original Sept. 19 date.

The release also acknowledges Monteith’s charity work and his “lovable” character Finn Hudson, the star quarterback of McKinley High who became a leader of the school’s glee club, New Directions.

Monteith was found dead on July 13 in his room at Vancouver’s Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel of a lethal mix of heroin and alcohol.

Fans of Monteith’s may make donations in his name to three charities that were especially important to him: Project Limelight Society, which exposes youth living in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside to the arts; Virgin Unite, founded to support entrepreneurial efforts to better the world; and Chrysalis, which helps homeless and low-income individuals find employment.