Glee bosses say Cory Monteith tribute episode will "deal directly" with his death

Glee bosses say Cory Monteith tribute episode will "deal directly" with his death

Glee bosses have revealed they intend to “deal directly” with tragic star Cory Monteith’s death.

The planned tribute episode will address the shocking tragedy when Cory â€" who plays charming Finn Hudson in the hit TV show â€" died of a heroin and alcohol overdose aged 31.

The cast and creators of the series will film public service announcements about drug addiction to help spread awareness.

"The third episode will deal with the Finn Hudson character being written out of the show," it was announced by FOX Entertainment Chairman Kevin Reilly.

He couldn't confirm whether Finn would die of an overdose but explained: "What I will tell you is that that episode will deal directly with the incidents involved in Cory's passing and with the drug abuse in particular."

His friends and co-stars will speak directly to the audience

Reilly said the show are planning to "shoot some PSAs with the cast" that would "speak directly to the audience" about Monteith's death, adding "I think they're going to be very impactful."

"What we all said [at Cory's service last week], what everybody knows, is - you know, you see some people struggling with addiction.

“It's clear, they're very easily put in a category: Oh, he was dark. Oh, she was always a partier.

"Cory was a big open wonderful life force. He was not a problem. Everybody loved him. He didn't look like [an addict] he looked straight as an arrow.

“He was very open about [drug use] in his past, not as open about it in the present."

The show will return for three episodes before taking a long hiatus

Reilly said the death was a shock because it was an accident.

Speaking during a Television Critics Association panel on Thursday [August 1] he reasoned: "It was not intentional, it was an accident that happened to somebody struggling with an addiction.

"I think that's what ultimately will become of this - illuminating that particular kind of addiction."

Lea Michele, the on and off screen girlfriend of the late actor, returned to work today.

She wrote on Twitter: “First day of glee today..And at my first wardrobe fitting for Rachel Berry for Season Five! I've missed her so much.”

Video: Watch Finn Hudson's best Glee moments

Glee will take a long hiatus after the shows three episode return in September.

The popular show will then take a break while bosses reassess the show’s direction as co-stars mourn the loss of their friend and co-star.

Creator of the hit show, Murphy, told Deadline: "We will begin shooting in late August the two shows we had already written, so that people can physically go back to work.

"We will then do an episode that will deal with the death of Finn's character and follow that with a long hiatus. I don't know exactly when we will come back.

"We were left with the decision, what do you do? Do you cancel, shut down the show? Come back in December and January?

“We considered every option, and decided to do what the cast and crew felt best."