After a long wait and a ton of speculation, a fifth season of cult comedy Arrested Development is officially being produced for Netflix. The new episodes will premiere on the streaming service in 2018.
The entire series regular cast and creator Mitchel Hurwitz have signed on for the new season. The returning cast members are Jason Bateman, Michael Cera, Jeffrey Tambor, Jessica Walter, Will Arnett, Tony Hale, Portia de Rossi, David Cross and Alia Shawkat.
Executive producers are Hurwitz, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Jim Vallely and Richie Rosenstock. 20th Century Fox Television and Imagine Television produce.
"In talks with Netflix we all felt that stories about a narcissistic, erratically behaving family in the building business - and their desperate abuses of power - are really underrepresented on TV these days," said Hurwitz. "I am so grateful to them and to 20th TV for making this dream of mine come true in bringing the Bluths, George Sr., Lucille and the kids; Michael, Ivanka, Don Jr., Eric, George-Michael, and who am I forgetting, oh Tiffany. Did I say Tiffany? - back to the glorious stream of life."
"Arrested Development brings us structures, outerwear and choreography like no other comedy in history," said Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer, Netflix. "Season four marked the first foray by Netflix into original comedy programming and this time, the Bluths will collectively be spending more quality time with their millions of fans around the world."
"Arrested Development remains one of the iconic franchises we, Ron and Brian are asked about most," added Dana Walden and Gary Newman, Chairmen and CEOs, Fox Television Group. "It's a testament to the brilliance of Mitch's creation, the passion of his audience, and the love his cast holds in their hearts for his writing and characters that we have been able to 'get the band back together' not once but twice since the Emmy-winning original run. Get ready, America. The Bluths are coming back."
"I love working with Mitch. He is a genius and the rarest of original thinkers. He brings a richness to the characters and the storylines that makes the series memorably fun," said Grazer, with Howard adding: "Whew! I can finally answer the question... Hell yes! Warming up my uncredited narrator vocal chords. Now the only thing I will have to be coy about is all the craziness the Bluths are going to face this season."
