Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Andy Samberg says filming show in wake of police brutality protests is ‘a challenge’

‘The writers are all rethinking how we’re going to move forward’

Andy Samberg admitted that figuring out how to continue Brooklyn Nine-Nine in the wake of police brutality protests has been a “challenge”.

Samberg, who plays detective Jake Peralta on the cop comedy, told People that the cast and crew were looking to bring the show back in a way they “[felt] morally okay about” while demonstrators across the US reckoned with police brutality.

“We’re taking a step back, and the writers are all rethinking how we’re going to move forward, as well as the cast,” the actor said.

“We’re all in touch and kind of discussing how you make a comedy show about police right now, and if we can find a way of doing that that we all feel morally okay about. I know that we’ll figure it out, but it’s definitely a challenge, so we’ll see how it goes.”

Protests against police brutality have taken place across the US and around the world following the death of George Floyd in May, who died after a police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.

In June, Brooklyn Nine-Nine actor Terry Crews revealed that the sitcom had abandoned four episodes in the wake of the protests, saying: “We’ve had a lot of sombre talks about it and deep conversations and we hope through this we’re going to make something that will be truly groundbreaking this year. We have an opportunity and we plan to use it in the best way possible.”

The show’s cast also donated $100,000 (£80,000) to the National Bail Fund Network, saying: “We support the many people who are protesting police brutality nationally.”