Confident that writer and Community showrunner Dan Harmon is crazy but still curious as to the exact depths of said lunacy and eager for copious examples? Well you’re in luck, my friend. It was announced today that indie distributor The Orchard has acquired all theatrical and digital rights in North America and the U.K. for Neil Berkeley’s documentary Harmontown, which chronicles Harmon’s cross country tour recording his podcast in front of live audiences in the wake of being fired from the NBC sitcom he created.
Despite meager ratings Community developed a cult following through its first three season on the air, but all the while the famously mercurial Harmon clashed loudly behind the scenes with executives at Sony, the studio behind the show. It was then, in May of 2012, that Harmon was fired from the show. Presumably reeling and in need of an outlet, Harmon decided to turn the monthly podcast he recorded live in Hollywood into a weekly show that would move from city to city across the U.S. Chronicling it all was filmmaker Berkeley (Beauty Is Embarrassing).
The documentary premiered earlier this year at SXSW, and played again last month at the Los Angeles Film Festival. Making appearances are fellow comedians Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Jason Sudeikis, Sarah Silverman, and Joel McHale – all former Harmon collaborators. Though the exact release date has not yet been set, The Orchard will release the film both theatrically and digitally this fall. Says Harmon, “It’s more than a documentary. It’s your chance to figure out what’s wrong with me while cutting me in on the profit.”
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