'This Is Us' Creator Says Show Will Address COVID-19 Pandemic in Upcoming Season
"This Is Us" creator Dan Fogelman recently revealed that the current pandemic will be addressed in the upcoming season of the hit television series.
"Some vague #ThisIsUs answers (sorry) - Not sure yet on production start. - Not sure when new eps will air. - Yes on Covid. We've decided to attack things head on," Fogelman tweeted.
And while the COVID-19 was not in the cards when "This Is Us" started, the showrunner wrote that it will not change the way fans have imagined the series playing out. The show premiered on NBC in 2016.
Chris Sullivan, Chrissy Metz, Mandy Moore, Dan Fogelman and Sterling K. Brown of "This Is Us" at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena on January 11, 2020 in Pasadena, California. | Photo: Getty Images
Fogelman tweeted: "Very proud of @ThisIsUsWriters - Same planned ending. Same route to get there. Hope that's (somewhat) useful?"
How the coronavirus will fit in "This Is Us" is not yet clear, particularly since season four ended with a wide scope of storylines.
That includes the impending fatherhood of Kevin, his estrangement with Randall, the choice of Kate and Toby to adopt, and the worsening health of Rebecca.
Back in May, Chrissy Metz, who plays Kate Pearson on "This Is Us," disclosed to PEOPLE that the show will reveal more awful flashbacks in her character's storylines for season five.
According to some reports, Fogelman was already working diligently on the upcoming season.
During the interview, Metz also remembered having a discussion with Fogelman about the direction of Kate's storyline.
Aside from digging into the eventual fate of Kate, viewers became familiar with her past in season four. They learned that Kate was in an abusive relationship with her first sweetheart, Marc.
Chris Sullivan, Mandy Moore, Justin Hartley, Chrissy Metz, Sterling K. Brown, Susan Kelechi Watson during the NBC Universal Press Tour on January 11, 2020. | Photo: Getty Images
Fans surmised how their relationship ultimately ended, but there seems to be more to find out about the emotional outcome of the breakup and how it influences Kate as a grown-up woman.
"This Is Us" has one of the ground-breaking and well-structured pilots seen on TV in recent years. The skillfully crafted series successfully guides viewers into the lives of the Pearsons.
The show's season four finale aired on March 24, 2020. According to some reports, Fogelman was already working diligently on the upcoming season.
He told reporters that he had written the season premiere for season five. There is something significant that happens, Fogelman shared, adding they have their whole arrangement outlined for seasons five and six.