Gone, but never forgotten. It's been one month since Cory Monteith died tragically at the age of 31, but the late actor is still very much a part of the world he left behind. On Tuesday, Aug. 13, the Toronto International Film Festival announced that the Glee star's final movie, McCanick, would premiere at the festival on Sept. 9.
Following the announcement, Bleiberg Entertainment released a new photo of Monteith in character for the crime drama. He played Simon Weeks, a criminal whose release from prison triggers "a firestorm of paranoia and violence," according to Entertainment Weekly. David Morse, Mike Vogel, and Ciaran Hinds also star.
"The character [Cory] plays is this drug-addicted street hustler, and he was wanting to tap into things from his youth — which he's been very open about publicly," director Josh C. Waller previously told EW. "I think he saw the role as an opportunity for catharsis."
Monteith was found dead of heroin and alcohol toxicity in a Vancouver hotel room on July 13. In the month since, those who knew and loved him — including costar and girlfriend Lea Michele — have looked for ways to honor his memory even as they grieve his loss. On Sunday, Aug. 11, Michele made her first public appearance at the Teen Choice Awards, where she dedicated her Choice TV Actress surfboard to her late boyfriend.
"For all of you out there who loved and admired Cory as much as I did, I promise that with your love we're going to get through this together. He was very special to me and also to the world," she said through tears. "We were very lucky to witness his incredible talent, his handsome smile, and his beautiful, beautiful heart."
She added: "So whether you knew him personally or just as Finn Hudson, Cory reached out and he became a part of all of our hearts. And that's where he will stay forever."
