‘Arrested Development’ Earns a Fifth Season on Netflix

Arrested Development Jason Bateman and Michael Cera
Jason Bateman and Michael Cera in ‘Arrested Development’ season 4 (Photo by Sam Urdank / Netflix)

The entire cast will be returning for a fifth season of Arrested Development, as just announced by Netflix. Jason Bateman, Michael Cera, Jeffrey Tambor, Jessica Walter, Will Arnett, Tony Hale, Portia de Rossi, David Cross, and Alia Shawkat are all confirmed to reprise their roles, and series creator Mitchell Hurwitz is back on board for season five which is targeting a 2018 premiere.

Hurwitz, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Jim Vallely and Richie Rosenstock are executive producing Arrested Development season five.


“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 series creator Mitchell Hurwitz. He added, “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,” added Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos. “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,” stated Fox Television Group Chairmen and CEOs Dana Walden and Gary Newman. “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.”

“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,” said executive producer Ron Howard.