Community is about to take fans beyond the darkest timeline.

So teases the first extended trailer for this NBC sitcom, which finally premieres Season 5 on Thursday, January 2 and which tackles the casting elephant in the suddenly-less-hilarious room:

Donald Glover will exit the series after five episodes.

In the following footage, we see Abed and Troy makes a reference to Scrubs; we see scenes with Walton Goggins from Justified; and we're told that new episodes are brought to you by “the executive producer of Seasons 1 through 3."

Well played, Dan Harmon. Watch now:

NOTE: Catch up on past installment and watch Community online now.

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.