Glee' Season 5 Delayed Until Sept. 26 After Cory Monteith's Death

Finn (Cory Monteith) and Emma (Jayma Mays) in the "Diva" episode of "Glee."

Following the tragic death of 31-year-old "Glee" star Cory Monteith, Fox, "Glee" producers, and the show's production company have decided to delay the premiere of the series' fifth season until Sept. 26.

Fox on Friday afternoon issued a release, stating, "In light of the tragic passing of beloved 'Glee' cast member Cory Monteith, the series' executive producers, 20th Century Fox Television, and Fox Broadcasting Company have jointly decided to delay the start of production of 'Glee' until early August … No further details are available at this time."

[Related: Dianna Agron and Naya Rivera Remember ‘Glee’ Co-Star Cory Monteith]

Monteith, who played star quarterback-turned-New Directions glee club leader Finn Hudson, was expected to be a part of the show's new season.
Fox also directed fans who want to honor Monteith to consider making donations in his name to charitable organizations he worked with, including Project Limelight Society, Virgin Unite, and Chrysalis.
Meanwhile, sources tell Yahoo! TV that friends of Monteith will be gathering at the late actor's house in Los Angeles on Friday night for a memorial service. The informal gathering, which will include several of Monteith's "Glee" cast members, will include friends sharing photos and happy stories about the actor, who was found dead in his Vancouver hotel room on July 13.

[Related: Cory Monteith's Cause of Death: Heroin and Alcohol]

Monteith, who died after mixing alcohol and heroin, was cremated on Tuesday, after a viewing was held for his mother, brother Shaun, and real-life girlfriend/"Glee" co-star Lea Michele.

In Touch magazine reports fans of Monteith plan to hold a candlelight vigil for the actor outside the Fairmount Pacific Rim hotel in Vancouver, where the actor died, on Friday night.

Check out photos of Monteith on "Glee":