Chuck vs the Movie

Since the shot faded to black on that heart-wrenching beach scene at the close of ‘Chuck vs the Goodbye’ Chuck fans have come out in droves to determine what happened to our favorite spies after their magical kiss. Sites such as Fanfiction.net and Archive of Our Own have exploded with theories and possible character scenarios. Alternate universe stories are as common as cannon, which has aided in creating finishing touches for the beloved show. While many people have theorized about what actually happened to our favorite nerd and super agent wife, others have merely bemoaned what they felt was a terrible ending for their favorite characters.

Chuck final scene

Post-finale, people erupted across the Internet lamenting the fact that the cinematic end to Chuck and Sarah’s relationship was far from happy. Many people have even deemed the ending to be completely unsatisfactory. It is somewhat understandable. Fans become genuinely invested in the fates of their favorite characters and often wish to see complete resolution at the close of a series. The ambiguous ending to five years of Chuck was thought to be too open-ended for an otherwise resolved show.

There are two types of Chuck fans. Those whose disappointment with the series finale was enough to make the re-watching of the show nearly unbearable, and those who took the open ending as a double entendre of sorts. For many of the loyal and passionate viewers, the ending was viewed as an opportunity for a much deserved Chuck film. Fans have eagerly anticipated the prospect of seeing Chuck on a big screen and have already done their best to promote the idea. The hope for a Chuck movie has resonated with loyal Chucksters because, within the year since the series end, various campaigns have been formed. Groups such as ‘We Give a Chuck’ and ‘The Chuck Movie’ have already begun the process of funding a film. Even the show’s stars have expressed interest in being part of a Chuck movie. "I really want to do [the Chuck movie] Kickstarter style," he explained. "I want it to be something that the fans can all pitch in for... because we've always been supported and survived on our fans anyway." Levi may have been onto something. While Chuck funding was off to a relatively slow start, the recent Kickstarter success of Veronica Mars will be sure to draw attention to another little show that could.

Chuck vs the Movie Campaign Image

With the incredible response to the Veronica Mars Kickstarter campaign, there has been a renewed hope at the possibility of a future Chuck movie. The immediate reaction to Veronica Mars highlights the fact that true fans of television shows have far more power than the weekly Nielsen ratings. No longer does the cancellation of a show mean the end of the characters’ journeys. No show is more reflective of this fact than Chuck.

If any television show possesses the ability to acquire big screen conclusion, it’s Chuck.

Here’s why:

1.     It Is the Most Resilient Show to Have Ever Been on Television

At no point during its five-year run was Chuck not on the dangerous precipice of cancellation. During each hiatus fans and creators alike feared that NBC would pull Chuck from the air and prevent any additional seasons. Luckily, the combination of devoted fans and great scripts allowed Chuck to remain on our television sets for five solid years. That’s not to say that there weren’t quite a few speed bumps along the way. Unfortunately, the debut season occurred during Hollywood’s infamous writer’s strike. The first season of Chuck offered a paltry 13 episodes and concluded with a season finale that was far less memorable than the four that followed. Despite the incredibly quiet conclusion to season 1, NBC made the decision to renew the spy comedy for a sophomore season. This decision would spark one of the most well-known fan campaigns in history. A season 2 finale ending with, “To Be Continued…” was a risky move for a show that had yet to be renewed for a second time. For many months after the finale, it seemed as though Chuck had seen its final episode. Unwilling to take the leap and renew the show, NBC was hit with one of the most amazing displays of devotion seen to date. Which leads to reason #2 as to why Chuck could and should become a movie…

2.     The Fans are Passionate and Relentless

With little hope of the renewal of their favorite show, Chuck fans took its fate in their own hands and began to campaign in a way that Warner Brothers could only dream about. To this day I cannot walk into a Subway without thinking about my favorite television show and the fellow Chucksters who supported it in a way that drew much attention. Knowing that Subway was a sponsor of the beloved show, passionate fans across the world, yes WORLD, flocked to their local Subway chains and began spreading the love. Chucksters bought their favorite subs and, when leaving the restaurant, filled out customer comment cards demanding that Chuck remain on air. In addition to gorging themselves on BLT’s and meatball subs, Chucksters decided to address the studio in a more direct manner. The ingenious idea to send Wonkas ‘Nerds’ to the Warner Brothers Company motivated the Chuck fans even more. Thousands of candy boxes were sent to the corporation until, at last, the cult-favorite was picked up for a third season. Subway has been featured within the show since the campaign, serving as a reminder to everyone how much of an impact loyal fans can have on the entertainment industry.

3.     The Cast is Just as Passionate

It is very rare for a new television show to be predominately made up of unknown actors. Chuck became an incredible opportunity for much of the cast, providing most with their breakout roles. Well aware of the opportunities and open doors provided by Chuck and the fan campaigns, the cast has done an incredible amount of work giving back to their loyal followers. Zachary Levi, Mr. Chuck himself, has been seen on numerous occasions aiding in the fan-driven ‘Buy a Sub, Save a Show’ campaign. He has worked making Subway sandwiches for fans and has always provided support for all of the fan campaigns. The Chuck panel became a fan-favorite at various Comic-Cons, which eventually spurned the creation of panels and events catered solely to Chuck fans. There have been numerous, intimate gatherings during which Chuck fans have had the opportunity to interact with their favorite stars and further promote their favorite show. Since the series finale Levi has used his company The Nerd Machine as a means of continuing the Chuck legacy. Nerd HQ has become a Mecca for Chuck fans who wish to witness the reunions of their favorite characters. The publicity that has surrounded Chuck since the series ending has only aided in sparking hope for a feature film. Much of the cast has expressed interest in the idea, making the Chuck movie seem that much more attainable.

There are a slew of other reasons as to why Chuck is deserving of a movie.

A.     It has one of the most epic love stories to have been depicted on television. (Seriously, just type in ‘Chuck and Sarah’ on Youtube and you will be blown away by the fan reaction to the pair) 

B.     Each episode features every imaginable genre (comedy, action, romance)

C.     The characters are well-developed and genuinely likable

D.    Jeffster 

E.     Casey’s grunts

F.     It has brought together fans from all over the world and has created long-lasting life friendships.

G.     You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll want to become a spy.

Chuck is an incredibly unique television show whose heart lies within its global fan-base. There has been, and will continue to be, an outpouring of love and support for the show. Each fan has a specific reason for loving the show (for me it was the only thing that me and my dad could watch with equal enthusiasm) which creates a deeply personal connection to the characters and other supporters.

To this day I can’t watch the series finale without crying. I think that this is a very good thing because, for me at least, it highlights the fact that true fans of anything will never stop being passionate.

#WeGiveAChuck #ChuckMovie #ChuckNotForgotten

Live it, love it, trend it.

Chuck Movie Campaigns:

http://reelfans.com/reelfans.com/chuck/

http://thechuckmovie.com/

http://www.wegiveachuck.com/