Cory Monteith's drug overdose will play a role in 'Glee' episode

The late “Glee” actor Cory Monteith will be written out of the show in this season’s third episode, Fox Entertainment Chief Kevin Reilly told TV critics Thursday.

That episode “will deal directly with the incidents involved with Cory’s passing,” the drug abuse in particular, said Reilly, who would not confirm that Monteith’s character, Finn Hudson, will die of an overdose.

Monteith, 31, died July 13 in a Vancouver hotel room of an accidental heroin and alcohol overdose.

The Cory episode will include public service announcements featuring “Glee” cast members. Sony and Fox proceeds from the music in that episode will be used to create a scholarship fund in Monteith’s honor, Reilly said.

“Glee” creator Ryan Murphy and the cast are slated to start production on season five within days.

“If they weren’t up for it we would have dealt with a pushed back schedule,” Reilly said. “Really it was Ryan talking to Lea [“Glee” star Lea Michele, who was Monteith’s girlfriend in real life], and she said, ‘I want to get back to work,’ and all the other kids said we want to get back to it.”

Reilly didn’t have many details about what’s in store this season, but he did say the first two episodes will feature Beatles songs.

He also predicted that the end is sight for the Fox series.

“I would not anticipate it goes beyond two more seasons,” he said.

The fifth season of “Glee” begins Sept. 26, a week later than Fox had originally planned.